Indians, Environment, and Identity on the Borders of American Literature: From Faulkner and Morrison to Walker and Silko (American Literature Readings in the Twenty-First Century)

Indians, Environment, and Identity on the Borders of American Literature foregrounds amalgamation among American Indians, African Americans, and Euramericans as a central feature of American literature. The authors discussed, including James Fenimore Cooper, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Leslie Marmon Silko, place this cross-cultural contact in nature, not only collapsing cultural and racial boundaries, but also complicating divisions between “wilderness” and “civilization.” Responding to contemporary theoretical approaches to race, culture, and nationhood, this book points toward the multiple perspectives and cultures that distinguish American literature. Smith highlights the role of geography in these critical discourses, forging a connection between ecological theory and ethnic studies. Indians, Environment, And Identity On The Borders Of American Literature Foregrounds Amalgamation Among American Indians, African Americans, And Euramericans As A Central Feature Of American Literature. The Authors Discussed, Including James Fenimore Cooper, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, And Leslie Mormon Silko, Place This Cross-cultural Contact In Nature, Not Only Collapsing Cultural And Racial Boundaries, But Also Complicating Divisions Between Wilderness And Civilization Responding To Contemporary Theoretical Approaches To Race, Culture, And Nationhood, This Book Points Toward The Multiple Perspectives And Cultures That Distinguish American Literature. Smith Highlights The Role Of Geography In These Critical Discourses, Forging A Connection Between Ecological Theory And Ethnic Studies.--jacket. Cross-cultural Hybridity In James Fenimore Cooper's The Last Of The Mohicans -- Legacy Of Doom On The Crossroads Of William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha -- Indigenous Rememory : Cultural Hybridity And The Nature Of Resistance In The Novels Of Toni Morrison -- Alice Walker's Eco-warriors -- The Earth Remains : Place And Prophecy In Leslie Marmon Silko's Almanac Of The Dead. Lindsey Claire Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [183]-191) And Index. Indians, Environment, and Identity on the Borders of American Literature foregrounds amalgamation among American Indians, African Americans, and Euromericans as a central feature of American literature. The authors discussed, including James Fenimore Cooper, William Foulkner, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Leslie Marmon Silko, place this cross-cultural contact in nature, not only collapsing cultural and racial boundaries, but also complicating divisions between "wilderness" and "civilization." Responding to contemporary theoretical approaches to race, culture, and nationhood, this book points toward the multiple perspectives and cultures that distinguish American literature. Smith highlights the role of geography in these critical discourses, forging a connection between ecological theory and ethnic studies Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-6 Cross-Cultural Hybridity in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans ....Pages 7-37 Legacy of “Doom” on the Crossroads of William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha....Pages 39-73 Indigenous “Rememory”: Cultural Hybridity and the Nature of Resistance in the Novels of Toni Morrison....Pages 75-107 Alice Walker’s Eco-“Warriors”....Pages 109-144 The Earth Remains: Place and Prophecy in Leslie Marmon Silko’s Almanac of the Dead....Pages 145-177 Back Matter....Pages 179-196 The authors discussed in this book, including James Fenimore Cooper, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Leslie Marmon Silko, place this cross-cultural contact in nature, not only collapsing cultural and racial boundaries, but also complicating divisions between 'wilderness' and 'civilization.'