Race, Culture, and Identity : Francophone West African and Caribbean Literature and Theory from Négritude to Créolité

In this groundbreaking book, Shireen Lewis gives a comprehensive analysis of the literary and theoretical discourse on race, culture, and identity by Francophone and Caribbean writers beginning in the early part of the twentieth century and continuing into the dawn of the new millennium. Examining the works of Patrick Chamoiseau, Rapha`l Confiant, AimZ CZsaire, LZopold Senghor, LZon Damas, and Paulette Nardal, Lewis traces a move away from the preoccupation with African origins and racial and cultural purity, toward concerns of hybridity and fragmentation in the New World or Diasporic space. In addition to exploring how this shift parallels the larger debate around modernism and postmodernism, Lewis makes a significant contribution by arguing for the inclusion of Martinican intellectual Paulette Nardal, and other women into the canon as significant contributors to the birth of modern black Francophone literature. In This Work, Shireen K. Lewis Gives A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Literary And Theoretical Discourse On Race, Culture, And Identity By Francophone And Caribbean Writers. Examining A Multitude Of Texts, Lewis Traces The Move Away From The Preoccupation With African Origins And Racial And Cultural Purity, Toward Concerns Of Hybridity And Fragmentation In The New World Of Diasporic Space. In Addition To Exploring How This Shift Parallels The Larger Debate Around Modernism And Postmodernism, Lewis Argues For The Inclusion Of Paulette Nardal, And Other Women, Into The Canon As Significant Contributors To The Birth Of Modern Black Francophone Literature.--jacket. Légitime Défense: A Precursor To Modern Black Francophone Literature -- What Was Négritude? -- Gendering Négritude: Paulette Nardal's Contribution To The Birth Of Modern Francophone Literature -- Rerooting The Uprooted: Edouard Glissant's Antillanité And Beyond -- The Créolité Movement: Reconfiguring Identity In The Caribbean In The Late Twentieth Century. Shireen K. Lewis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [153]-161) And Index.

In this groundbreaking book, Shireen Lewis gives a comprehensive analysis of the literary and theoretical discourse on race, culture, and identity by Francophone and Caribbean writers beginning in the early part of the twentieth century and continuing into the dawn of the new millennium. Examining the works of Patrick Chamoiseau, Raphàl Confiant, Aimé CZsaire, LZopold Senghor, LZon Damas, and Paulette Nardal, Lewis traces a move away from the preoccupation with African origins and racial and cultural purity, toward concerns of hybridity and fragmentation in the New World or Diasporic space. In addition to exploring how this shift parallels the larger debate around modernism and postmodernism, Lewis makes a significant contribution by arguing for the inclusion of Martinican intellectual Paulette Nardal, and other women into the canon as significant contributors to the birth of modern black Francophone literature.

Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Chapter 1. Légitime Défense: A Precursor to Modern Black Francophone Literature Chapter 2. What Was Négritude? Chapter 3. Gendering Négritude: Paulette Nardal's Contribution to the Birth of Modern Francophone Literature Chapter 4. Rerooting the Uprooted: Edouard Glissant's Antillanité and Beyond Chapter 5. The Créolité Movement: Reconfiguring Identity in the Caribbean in the Late Twentieth Century Notes Bibliography Index About the Author