Global Ralph Ellison: Aesthetics and Politics Beyond US Borders

This essay collection explores how Ralph Ellison's encounters with global literature and scholarship shaped his aesthetics and politics, and the relationship between Invisible Man and the political and cultural contexts of South Africa, the USSR, and Russia, Germany, and Japan since World War II. Contributors from seven countries employ archival research in Ellison's personal library and translation and reception histories to initiate a new approach in Ellison studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 316 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2021
Publisher: Peter Lang International Academic Publishers

This comprehensive essay collection sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of the remarkable life and work of Ralph Ellison. It delves into the compelling question of how and why this author, who proudly identified as "American," engaged with a vast array of literature and scholarship from across the globe. As a result, his works have gained widespread recognition beyond the borders of the United States. The essay collection examines the profound impact that Ellison's encounters with renowned figures such as Henry James, the Cambridge Ritualists, the Roman poet Ovid, and the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky had on both the aesthetic and political dimensions of his own writing. It also explores the intricate relationship between Invisible Man and the complex and ever-evolving political and cultural contexts of South Africa, the Soviet Union, Russia, Germany, and Japan since World War II.

Contributors from seven different countries, hailing from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States, have conducted extensive archival research in Ellison's personal library and in the translation and reception histories of his iconic first novel. Their insights shed light on previously unexplored aspects of Ellison's life and writings, offering a fresh and groundbreaking perspective on his legacy.

This study of "Ellison in the world and the world in Ellison" pioneers a significant new approach in Ellison studies, unveiling previously concealed dimensions of the man and his profound contributions to literature. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike, deepening our understanding of this influential author and his enduring impact on the world of letters.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 173 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789974942
Edition number: New ed