Colonialism, World Literature, and the Making of the Modern Culture of Letters

This book explores how colonialism shaped global literary culture since the 18th century, examining how the realm of literature was thought to be separate from history and politics. It provides close studies of colonial archives, German philosophy of aesthetics, French realist novels, and English literary history, showing how colonialism shaped and reshaped modern literary cultures in decisive ways.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In a groundbreaking and ambitious reimagining of the field, this book posits that global literary culture since the eighteenth century has been profoundly shaped by colonial histories. It presents a comprehensive account of the colonial origins of the literary sovereign, the notion that literature was believed to exist in a realm separate from history and politics. Subsequently, the book traces this narrative across diverse cultures, multilingual archives, and geographical locations, offering in-depth examinations of colonial archives, German philosophy of aesthetics, French realist novels, and English literary history. Through these close studies, the book demonstrates how colonialism exerted a profound and multifaceted influence on modern literary cultures, reshaping them in significant ways. This work breaks new ground across disciplines such as literary studies, anthropology, history, and philosophy, inviting readers to reexamine the history of literature in a fresh and illuminating light.

In a groundbreaking and ambitious reimagining of the field, this book posits that global literary culture since the eighteenth century has been profoundly shaped by colonial histories. It presents a comprehensive account of the colonial origins of the literary sovereign, the notion that literature was believed to exist in a realm separate from history and politics. Subsequently, the book traces this narrative across diverse cultures, multilingual archives, and geographical locations, offering in-depth examinations of colonial archives, German philosophy of aesthetics, French realist novels, and English literary history. Through these close studies, the book demonstrates how colonialism exerted a profound and multifaceted influence on modern literary cultures, reshaping them in significant ways. This work breaks new ground across disciplines such as literary studies, anthropology, history, and philosophy, inviting readers to reexamine the history of literature in a fresh and illuminating light.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 235 x 162 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009422642