From Colonial to Modern: Transnational Girlhood in Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Literature, 1840-1940

From Colonial to Modern explores how colonial girlhood in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand reflected unique political, social, and cultural contexts through a comparison of texts published between 1840 and 1940. Print culture played a significant role in shaping these girlhoods, with models of girlhood shared between settler colonies but also revealing distinct attitudes emerged from different colonial experiences. The transnational girl adaptation of British imperial femininity highlights the perception of Indigenous culture and imperialism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2018
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

From Colonial to Modern offers a fresh perspective on colonial girlhoods by examining a selection of texts from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand published between 1840 and 1940. Through this comparative analysis, the book reveals how girlhood in each of these emerging nations reflects a distinct political, social, and cultural context. The print culture played a pivotal role in shaping and redefining colonial girlhood during this period of rapid change. While models of girlhood shared similarities across settler colonies, they also exhibited unique attitudes towards family, nature, education, employment, modernity, and race. The authors argue that these texts also showcase distinct attitudes that emerged from distinct colonial experiences.

In contrast to the imperial model representing the British ideal, the transnational girl emerges as an adaptation of British imperial femininity. This adaptation manifests in unique perceptions of Indigenous culture and imperialism, highlighting the complexities and nuances of femininity in white settler colonies. The authors draw upon fiction, girls' magazines, and school magazines to explore neglected corners of the literary histories of these three nations, thereby expanding our understanding of femininity in these contexts.

Overall, From Colonial to Modern provides a valuable contribution to the study of colonial girlhood, shedding light on the diverse and complex experiences of girls in these emerging nations. By examining the interplay between print culture, models of girlhood, and distinct colonial experiences, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the historical development of femininity in white settler colonies.

Weight: 592g
Dimension: 210 x 358 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487503093