The range of literature written in English but produced outside Britain and America has expanded considerably in recent years. This book provides a comparative and up-to-date survey of colonial, new national and post-colonial literatures, and related criticism. At the same time, the essays address the problem of establishing such politicized categories of literature; they recognize that, in a time of massive migration, rapid international communication, and increased demands by minorities, national cultures and national identities are less stable than ever before. Intended as an introduction for those new to the subject, the collection contributes to the ongoing discussion about the new literatures, and should also interest the specialist.
Part I. Introduction 1. New Centres of Consciousness Part II. Entangled Roots 2. Language, Orality, and Literature 3. Psychology, Creolization, and Hybridization 4. The Internationalization of Literatures Part III. Settlers, Colonials, and Nationalists 5. Pioneers and Settlers 6. Colonial Literatures 7. `Forging the Conscience of their Race': Nationalist Writers Part IV. Post-colonialism and its Discontents 8. Plato's Cave: Educational and Critical Practices 9. The Post-colonial Project: Critical Approaches and Problems 10. Post-colonial Critical Theories; Part V. Branches, Situations, and Differences 11. Exiles and Expatriates 12. Diasporas and Multiculturalism 13. Post-colonial Women Writers and Feminisms 14. Paper Tracks: Indigenous Literatures in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Bruce King is a freelance editor and writer. Has held professorships or distinguished visiting professorships at Ibadan, Lagos, Stirling, Windsor (Canada), Canterbury (NZ), Ben Gurion (Israel), Paris III, Paris VII, and North Alabama.