Writing After Postcolonialism: Francophone North African Literature in Transition (New Horizons in Contemporary Writing)

'Focusing on francophone writing from North Africa as it has developed since the 1980s, Writing After Postcolonialism explores the extent to which the notion of 'postcolonialism' is still resonant for literary writers a generation or more after independence, and examines the troubled status of literature in society and politics during this period. Whilst analysing the ways in which writers from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have reacted to political unrest and social dissatisfaction, Jane Hiddleston offers a compelling reflection on literature's ability to interrogate the postcolonial nation as well as on its own uncertain role in the current context. The book sets out both to situate the recent generation of francophone writers in North Africa in relation to contemporary politics, to postcolonial theory, and evolving notions of 'world literature, and to probe the ways in which a new and highly sophisticated set of writers reflect on the very notion of 'the literary' during this period of transition.' Review “The study is well researched and extremely readable. Although some familiarity with Francophone North African literature would be helpful, all scholars working in fields related to postcolonial or Francophone literature should find this text a fruitful read. Summing Up: Recommended.” - \*CHOICE \* About the Author Jane Hiddleston is Fellow and Tutor in French at Exeter College, University of Oxford, UK. Her previous books include Understanding Postcolonialism (2009) and Postructuralism and Postcoloniality (2010). "Focusing on francophone writing from North Africa as it has developed since the 1980s, Writing After Postcolonialism explores the extent to which the notion of 'postcolonialism' is still resonant for literary writers a generation or more after independence, and examines the troubled status of literature in society and politics during this period. Whilst analysing the ways in which writers from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have reacted to political unrest and social dissatisfaction, Jane Hiddleston offers a compelling reflection on literature's ability to interrogate the postcolonial nation as well as on its own uncertain role in the current context. The book sets out both to situate the recent generation of francophone writers in North Africa in relation to contemporary politics, to postcolonial theory, and evolving notions of 'world literature, and to probe the ways in which a new and highly sophisticated set of writers reflect on the very notion of 'the literary' during this period of transition."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1 Postcolonialism, World Literature and the Thousand and One Nights -- 2 Why Write? Literature According to its Authors -- 3 Writing for Others: The Public Writer and the Ghostwriter -- 4 Rewriting the Past: Literature and History -- 5 Creating 'Reality': Literature and Life -- 6 Writing between Languages: Literature as Translation -- 7 Francophone Letters: Literature as Encounter -- 8 The Power of Reading: Living with/through Books -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index