Dockside Reading: Hydrocolonialism and the Custom House

Dockside Reading by Isabel Hofmeyr explores how print culture, colonialism, and the ocean are connected through the British colonial Custom House, revealing how literary institutions like copyright and censorship were shaped by colonial control of coastal waters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her captivating book, Dockside Reading, Isabel Hofmeyr delves into the intricate web of connections between print culture, colonialism, and the vast ocean. Through the lens of the British colonial Custom House, Hofmeyr uncovers the profound impact of these entities on the maritime world. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the diligent dockside customs officials would meticulously peruse publications, seeking to identify obscenity, politically sensitive materials, or unauthorized reprints of British copyrighted works. Regrettably, these condemned goods would often be discarded into the water, serving as a means to erase incriminating evidence of the violence perpetrated by the empire. These practices, reminiscent of other colonial narratives that portrayed the ocean as a purifying agent, would later inform the censorship regimes under apartheid in South Africa. By meticulously tracing the journey of printed matter from ship to shore, Hofmeyr unveils how literary institutions such as copyright and censorship were molded by the colonial authority over coastal waters.

Set within the environmental context of the colonial port city, Dockside Reading takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of how imperialism colonizes water. Hofmeyr delves into this theme through the concept of hydrocolonialism, which seamlessly blends land and sea, empire, and environment. Through her meticulous research and insightful analysis, Hofmeyr sheds light on the complex interplay between power, knowledge, and the natural world, offering a profound reflection on the enduring legacies of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for cultural and environmental sovereignty.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478017745