Fieldwork of Empire, 1840-1900: Intercultural Dynamics in the Production of British Expeditionary Literature

Fieldwork of Empire,1840-1900: Intercultural Dynamics in the Production of British Expeditionary Literature explores the significant influence of non-Western cultural, political, and social forces on the production of British expeditionary literature. It argues that these forces shaped the discursive and material dimensions of the literature and extend to diverse materials from the expeditionary archive. The study focuses on Victorian expeditionary literature related to Africa, but its findings can inform scholarship on European expeditionary, imperial, and colonial literature from various periods and locations. The book advocates for a more localized and non-Western focus in future scholarship to offer a comprehensive account of expeditionary discourse and literature.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Fieldwork of Empire, 1840-1900: Intercultural Dynamics in the Production of British Expeditionary Literature delves into the profound influence of non-Western cultural, political, and social forces and agencies on the creation of British expeditionary literature. This groundbreaking project aims to reclaim and shed light on the significant impact of these non-Western elements, which shaped the discursive and material dimensions of expeditionary literature. The book makes a compelling argument that the influence of these non-Western forces extended to a wide range of materials from the expeditionary archive, reaching a scale and depth that previous critics have overlooked.

While the study primarily focuses on Victorian expeditionary literature related to Africa, a continent that witnessed a significant surge in British imperial interest during the nineteenth century, its findings have the potential to enrich scholarship on European expeditionary, imperial, and colonial literature across various periods and locations. The book's analysis is illustrative rather than comprehensive, with each chapter delving into intercultural encounters and expeditionary literature associated with specific time periods and African regions or locations.

The book suggests that future scholarship, particularly in fields such as expeditionary history, geography, cartography, travel writing studies, and book history, must adopt a more localized and non-Western focus to provide a comprehensive account of the production of expeditionary discourse and literature. By embracing a broader perspective, scholars can better understand the complex interplay between different cultures, societies, and power dynamics that shaped the development of expeditionary literature and its enduring impact on global history.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 161 x 235 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367207458