Family Fictions and World Making: Irish and Indian Women's Writing in the Contemporary Era

This book is the first comparative study of family novels from Ireland and India, exploring the idea of world-making through the fraught itineraries of the Irish and Indian family novel. It highlights the work of critically acclaimed women authors from the interwar period to the globalization era, who challenge the male nationalist idiom of the family and interrogate family fiction as a private genre.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Family Fictions and World Making: Irish and Indian Womens Writing in the Contemporary Era is a groundbreaking comparative study that delves into the realm of family novels from Ireland and India, offering a comprehensive exploration of these literary genres. Despite their shared historical experiences of early and late colonialism, Ireland and India are often portrayed solely within the context of metropolitan British and European influence. This book challenges that narrow perspective by charting the concept of world-making through the intricate journeys of the Irish and Indian family novel.

The novels analyzed in this book forefront kinship based on ideological rather than biological ties, reimagining the family as a central hub of interests transcending national boundaries. The book takes a deep dive into the works of critically acclaimed women authors such as Anne Enright, Elizabeth Bowen, Mahasweta Devi, Jennifer Johnston, Kiran Desai, and Molly Keane. These writers are considered representative voices of different eras, including the interwar years, the late-modern period, and the globalization era.

What sets these authors apart is their unwavering commitment to challenging the male nationalist narrative of the family. They skillfully interrogate the genre of family fiction, which is often perceived as a private and intimate realm, exposing its complexities and contradictions. By examining the broad timeframe spanning from the interwar period to the globalization era, this book fosters a meaningful dialogue between the early and current debates surrounding core and periphery in postcolonial literature.

Through their narratives, these women authors not only challenge the traditional patriarchal structures but also shed light on the diverse experiences and struggles of families across different cultures and historical contexts. Their works serve as a testament to the power of literature to transcend boundaries and reshape our understanding of the world.

Family Fictions and World Making: Irish and Indian Womens Writing in the Contemporary Era is a vital contribution to the field of comparative literature, providing a fresh perspective on the intersection of family, nation, and globalization. It is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of contemporary literature and the role of women writers in shaping our understanding of the world.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367745219