Narrating History, Home, and Dyaspora: Critical Essays on Edwidge Danticat

Contributions by Cècile Accilien,Maria Rice Bellamy,Gwen Bergner,Olga Blomgren,Maia L. Butler,Isabel Caldeira,Nadège T. Clitandre,Thadious Davis,Joanna Davis-McElligatt,Laura Dawkins,Megan Feifer,Delphine Gras,Akia Jackson,Tammie Jenkins,Shewonda Leger,Jennifer Lozano,Marion Rohrleitner,Thomás Rothe,Erika Serrato,Lucía Stecher,and Joyce White explore how Edwidge Danticat's writing,anthologizing,and storytelling trace, reconstruct, and develop alternate histories, narratives of nation building, and conceptions of home and belonging.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2022
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Narrating History, Home, and Diaspora: Critical Essays on Edwidge Danticat is a comprehensive collection of fifteen essays that delve into the intricate ways in which Edwidge Danticat's writing, anthologizing, and storytelling create, reconstruct, and develop alternative histories, narratives of nation-building, and conceptions of home and belonging. Renowned for her prolific output across various literary genres, Danticat's literary representations, political commentary, and personal activism have played a crucial role in shaping classroom and community engagements, envisioning radical futures. In the context of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, containment policies, and the devastating impacts of ecological volatility, Danticat's contributions to public discourse, art, and culture warrant sustained critical attention.

The first section of the collection, titled "The Other Side of the Water," explores Danticat's exploration of nationhood, both in Haiti and the United States, as well as the broader diasporic experience. It examines how she negotiates identity, culture, and belonging within these contexts, challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the complexities of transnationalism.

The second section, titled "Home and Belonging," delves into Danticat's representations of home and the complexities of displacement. Through her novels and short stories, Danticat explores the emotional and physical toll of migration, the challenges of rebuilding lives in new environments, and the search for a sense of belonging amidst displacement.

The third section, titled "Critical Perspectives," offers essential insights from scholars and critics who have examined Danticat's work. These essays explore various themes and issues raised by Danticat's writing, including statelessness, racialized and gendered state violence, political and economic marginalization, and the resilience and vitality of life in and as diaspora.

Overall, Narrating History, Home, and Diaspora: Critical Essays on Edwidge Danticat provides a rich and multifaceted exploration of Danticat's literary contributions, offering valuable perspectives to scholars, public intellectuals, and students interested in African diasporic, Haitian, Caribbean, and transnational American literary studies. Through her powerful storytelling and critical engagement, Danticat continues to inspire and challenge us to think critically about the past, present, and future, and to work towards a more inclusive and just world.

Weight: 436g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496839886