Reading for Water: Materiality and Method

Reading for Water is an experiment in reading for water that explores the sensory, political, and agentive power of water across literary texts, proposing new literary regions defined by coastlines, river basins, monsoons, currents, and hydro-cosmologies. It draws on a range of literary approaches to address southern African and Caribbean texts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into an innovative experiment in reading, focusing on the sensory, political, and agentive power of water across literary texts. It serves as a valuable toolkit for students and teachers, offering a comprehensive range of methods that explore the multifaceted aspects of water in literature. The chapters in this book trace the paths of rivers, rain, streams, tunnels, and sewers, interconnectedly linking atmospheric, surface, and ground water. They also delve into the diverse hydrological traditions and hydro-epistemologies, presenting fresh perspectives on water's role in shaping human societies. By transcending national and geographical boundaries, the book proposes new literary regions that are defined more by coastlines, river basins, monsoons, currents, and hydro-cosmologies. Whether one considers the flow of water along water courses, beneath the water's surface, or through the descent of precipitation, Reading for Water gracefully moves laterally, vertically, and contrapuntally between diverse water-worlds and hydro-imaginaries.

The collection specifically focuses on southern African and Caribbean texts, drawing upon a diverse array of literary approaches. These include critical oceanic studies, new materialisms, coastal and hydrocritical approaches, hydrocolonialism, black hydropoetics, and atmospheric methods. Each chapter in this book originally appeared as a special issue of Interventions, showcasing the cutting-edge research and insights into the world of water in literature.

Through its interdisciplinary approach, Reading for Water offers a profound exploration of the multifaceted relationship between water and human societies. It encourages readers to engage with water in new and imaginative ways, challenging traditional narratives and expanding our understanding of the world. Whether one is a scholar, teacher, or simply a passionate reader, this book provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for exploring the captivating world of water in literature.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032516295