Maryse Condé and the space of literature

"The Guadeloupean writer and critic Maryse Conde has for the last twenty-five years divided her time between her native Guadeloupe and the United States. If the author's work has attracted much critical attention in the United States, it is the fictional works that have been the focus of this attention with these predominantly read in the light of political themes such as identity and resistance. In these intelligent and sensitive readings, Eva Sansavior argues in favour of adopting a broader thematic and generic approach to the author's work. Sansavior accounts for the multiple and oblique uses of literature in the Conde's literary and critical work tracking its complex interactions with tradition, reception, politics and autobiography and also the singular possibilities that these interactions present for re-imagining the ideas of politics, literature, identity and, ultimately, the nature of critical practice itself." Chapter Introduction / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 1 Performing the Personal in the Interview / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 2 Re-writing the Journey to Africa or finding the wrong ancestors in En attendant le bonheur / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 3 Voice, Irony and History in Moi Tituba, sorciere. Noire de Salem / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 4 Autobiography and Reading in Le Cœur a? rire et a? pleurer: Contes vrais de mon enfance / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 5 Literature, Art and Identity Politics in Les Derniers Rois mages / Eva Sansavior -- chapter 6 On the Creative Uses of Gaps: (Re)imagining Identity in Desirada / Eva Sansavior -- chapter Conclusion / Eva Sansavior. Performing 'the Personal' In The Interview -- Re-writing The Journey To Africa Or 'finding The Wrong Ancestors' In En Attendant Le Bonheur -- Voice, Irony And Hisory In Moi Tituba, Sorcière... Noire De Salem -- Autobiography And Reading In Le Cœur à Pleurer : Contes Vrais De Mon Enfance -- Literature, Art And Identity Politics In Les Derniers Rois Mages -- On The Creative Uses Of Gaps : (re)-imagining Identity In Desirada. Eva Sansavior. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [125]-134) And Index. This book combines new readings of literary texts that have attracted significant critical attention with less widely read texts and a selection of Conde's critical essays and interviews. It situates the notions of politics, literature and space within fresh readings of the themes in Conde's work.