Decolonising the Conrad Canon

Decolonizing the Conrad Canon retools Joseph Conrad's lesser-known works through decolonial, queer, and feminist readings, highlighting anti-colonial resistance and queer dissonance in his female characters. It proposes an innovative model for teaching, reading, and studying the colonial literary canon.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Decolonising the Conrad Canon is a groundbreaking book that delves into the lesser-known works of Joseph Conrad and explores how they can be reinterpreted through decolonial, queer, and feminist lenses. The book argues that the author-Gods commonly associated with the colonial literary canon can be retooled to challenge the dominant colonial rhetoric that pervades their novels. By focusing on the female characters in Conrad's works, the book highlights their powerful anti-colonial resistance and queer dissonance, offering spaces from the colonial discourse that often dominates his narratives.

The book identifies pockets of anti-colonial resistance and queer dissonance in Conrad's lesser-known works, such as The Rescue, which features a queer gaze between Immada and Edith. It also explores the periodical illustrations that accompanied the initial serialization of the novel, adding depth to the characters and their relationships. Another example is Aissa's sustained critique of imperialism in An Outcast of the Islands and her portrayal on mass-market paperback book covers, which challenge the traditional representations of colonized women.

Furthermore, the book examines the structural female bonds in Conrad's works, such as Almayers Folly and Nina's embodiment in Chantal Akerman's adaptation, La Folie Almayer. It explores how these female characters are portrayed as viable, meaning-making citizens of the canon, challenging the marginalization and erasure of women in colonial literature.

Through this intervention, Decolonising the Conrad Canon proposes an innovative model for teaching, reading, and studying not just Joseph Conrad's work but the colonial literary canon more broadly. The book encourages readers to engage with Conrad's texts in new and transformative ways, challenging the colonial hierarchies and power structures that have shaped our understanding of literature and history.

In conclusion, Decolonising the Conrad Canon is a vital contribution to the field of decolonial studies and offers a fresh perspective on Joseph Conrad's works. By retooling the author-Gods through decolonial, queer, and feminist readings, the book challenges the dominant colonial discourse and promotes the inclusion of marginalized voices and experiences in the canon. It is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of colonialism and its impact on literature and society.

Dimension: 239 x 163 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800856462