The Author as Cannibal: Rewriting in Francophone Literature as a Postcolonial Genre, 1969-1995

In the first decades after the end of French rule, Francophone authors engaged in an exercise of rewriting narratives from the colonial literary canon, presented as figurative acts of cannibalism in Felisa Vergara Reynolds' book. These literary cannibalizations critique colonialism and its legacy in each author's homeland, focusing on four representative texts: Une tempête (1969) by Aimé Césaire, Le temps de Tamango (1981) by Boubacar Boris Diop, Lamour, la fantasia (1985) by Assia Djebar, and La migration des coeurs (1995) by Maryse Condé. Reynolds highlights the extent of their postcolonial critique by considering these works collectively and providing insight into literary cannibalism through interviews with Maryse Condé.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

In the aftermath of French rule, a fascinating literary phenomenon emerged among Francophone authors, who embarked on a creative endeavor to rewrite narratives from the colonial literary canon. This transformative process, aptly described as "the author as cannibal," was characterized by a deliberate act of appropriating and reimagining these narratives, often through a figurative lens of cannibalism. In her insightful book, The Author as Cannibal, Felisa Vergara Reynolds delves into the profound implications of these textual revisions, exploring how they serve as critical critiques of colonialism and its enduring legacy in the authors' respective homelands.

Reynolds' study focuses on a select group of four representative texts, each written independently in Africa and the Caribbean. These texts include Aimé Césaire's Une tempête (1969), Boubacar Boris Diop's Le temps de Tamango (1981), Assia Djebar's Lamour, la fantasia (1985), and Maryse Condé's La migration des coeurs (1995). Despite their geographical and cultural differences, these works share a common thread: a relentless pursuit of eradicating the social, political, cultural, and linguistic remnants of colonization that lingered long after independence.

Through a meticulous analysis of these texts, Reynolds reveals how they employ a combination of critical adaptation and creative destruction. By reinterpreting and reworking the colonial narratives, these authors aim to challenge the dominant narratives and power structures that perpetuated colonialism. They seek to undermine the hegemonic ideologies and oppressive systems that had been imposed upon their societies. Through their literary cannibalism, they strive to reclaim and redefine their cultural identities, forging new paths of resistance and empowerment.

One of the key insights of The Author as Cannibal lies in its positioning within Francophone studies. Reynolds demonstrates that the extent of these authors' postcolonial critique is best understood when considered collectively. By highlighting the thematic concerns and writing strategies employed in these texts, Reynolds showcases how they form a powerful collective form of protest and resistance for Francophone authors. These rewritings challenge the dominant narratives and power structures, offering alternative perspectives and challenging the status quo.

Furthermore, the book includes two insightful interviews with Maryse Condé, a prominent Francophone author who has been at the forefront of this literary movement. These interviews provide valuable insights into the motivations and processes behind literary cannibalism. Condé discusses the importance of rewriting history and challenging the dominant narratives that have shaped societies. She emphasizes the need to reclaim and redefine cultural identities, to break free from the constraints of colonialism and forge new paths of resistance and empowerment.

In conclusion, The Author as Cannibal is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on a significant aspect of Francophone literature and culture. Through its exploration of literary cannibalism, Reynolds offers a fresh perspective on the legacy of colonialism and its impact on societies. By highlighting the critical adaptation and creative destruction employed by Francophone authors, she demonstrates how literature can be a powerful tool for protest and resistance. The book's insights into the collective nature of postcolonial critique and the importance of rewriting history are valuable contributions to the field of Francophone studies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496218421