Publisher Description

A collection of discussions of literary texts from areas as diverse as Europe and North Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia, regions of the world that seem to have only their language in common. But despite enormous differences among all the countries where French is spoken, Francophone literatures tend to deal with a smiliar spread of issues. This volume positions the study of the Francophone world and its cultures as a comparative project, in which post-colonial Francophone cultures and the specific alterity of these cultures emerge as inextricable from and essential to an understanding of modern France. The volume is organized by region, with an international roster of contributions, and includes summaries of selected creative and critical works and a guide to selected terms and figures.

Author Biography

Kamal Salhi is Director of the Centre for Francophone Studies in the Department of French at the University of Leeds. He is the editor of French In and Out of France: Language Policies, Intercultural Antagonisms, and Dialogue (2002) and the editor or author of several other works in Francophone studies. He is the founder and editor of the International Journal of Francophone Studies.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Francophone World Moves into the Twenty-first Century Part 2 North Africa and the Middle East Chapter 3 Colonial Culture as Francophone? The Case of Late Nineteenth-Century Algeria Chapter 4 Closing and Opening of the Domestic Space in Ombre Sultane by Assia Djebar Chapter 5 The Interruptive Dynamics of History and Autobiography in L'Amour, la fantasie Chapter 6 Francophone Literature of the Middle East by Women: Breaking the Walls of Silence Part 7 Sub-Saharan Africa Chapter 8 The Negotiation of Identity in the Francophone African Novel Chapter 9 The Myth of the Garden of Eden and the Symbolism of the Baobab Tree in the Works of Ken Bugul and Aminata Sow Fall Chapter 10 Revisiting the "Roman de la Desillusion": A Semiotic and Cultural Reading of Ousmane Sembène's Xala Chapter 11 Challenging Colonization of Space: Exteriors and Interiors in the Films of Ousmane Sembène and Suleymane Cissé Chapter 12 The Other I: Questions of Identity in Une Vie de boy Part 13 The Caribbean Chapter 14 Landscaping Identity in Contemporary Caribbean Literature Chapter 15 Breaking the Metronome: Community and Song in the Works of Maryse Condé's Moi, Tituba sorcière . . . Noire de Salem Chapter 16 Literature in Guiana: The D'Chimbo Narratives Chapter 17 Guadeloupean Literature: Multiple Versions of Créolité Chapter 18 History and Cultural Identity in Haitian Writings Part 19 North America Chapter 20 The Quebec Novel Chapter 21 Quebecois Drama: Bordering on Intimacy Chapter 22 Reflections on the Figures of a Nation in Les anciens canadiens by Philipe Aubert de Gaspé, père Chapter 23 Antonine Maillet's Rewriting of Acadian History Chapter 24 "Raconte-moi Acadie": The Competing Voices of Acadia in Jacque Savoie's Novel Raconte-moi Massabielle and His Film Massabielle Part 25 Europe Chapter 26 Communication, Language, and Silence in Suisse Romande Chapter 27 Paradox of Linguistic Specificity and Dependence in the Regionalist Novels by Arthur Masson Chapter 28 Linguistics Profit, Loss, and Betrayal in Paris-Athènes Chapter 29 On Earthquakes and Cultural Sedimentation: The Origins of Post-Colonial Shock Waves in Azouz Begag's Zenzela Part 30 The Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia Chapter 31 How Appropriate is the Term "Post-Colonial to the Cultural Production of Réunion? Chapter 32 The Poetics of Mixed Marriage in Le Clézio's La Quarantaine Chapter 33 A Vietnamese Voice in the Dark: Three Stages in the Corpus of Linda Lê Part 34 The Pacific Ocean Chapter 35 New Caledonia: An Emerging Literature as Social Project Chapter 36 Appendix A: Summaries of Selected Creative and Critical Works Chapter 37 Appendix B: Guide to Selected Terms and Figures

Review

Professor Salhi offers a collection of work on Francophone issues that is monumental in breadth and scope. The work sets the tone for Francophone Studies in the twenty-first century by offering new insights into the history and the concepts of space and geopolitics, as they relate to notions of cultural identity, language, alienation, and ideologies of Otherness throughout the Francophone world. -- Valérie Orlando, Illinois Wesleyan University
...Francophone Post-Colonial Cultures is an excellent resource for faculty or graduate students new to the discipline as well as for specialists. Instructors preparing a coruse on francophone literatures and cultures will find a wealth of material in its panoramic view. * L'esprit Createur *
This collection of essays offers a current but lasting contribution to the field of francophone studies. . . university libraries should consider the hardback version essential for their collections. * International Journal Of Francophone Studies *
Recommendeddddd * CHOICE *
Francophone Post-Colonial Cultures is focused and accessible to advanced students and their teachers who wish to go beyond the French literary canon and a valuable reference to any Africanist. The essays display historical depth and theoretical finesse, thus providing a starting point for the eamination of the cultural differences and commonalities that comprise the Francophone world today. In a word, this volume has the ability to trigger a dialogue between Francophone and Anglophone scholars of postcolonialism and to further Africanists understanding of Postcolonial Africa and the diaspora. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *
We teachers and scholars in "Francophonie" need books like this one that re-examine the terms, the history, and the cultures of the French-speaking world. This volume promises to be not only international, but transnational in its reach and purpose. I see this book as a great resource for the classroom. -- Marjorie Salvodon, Suffolk University
Recommended * CHOICE *
Kamal Salhi's timely collection of essays, which is part of an excellent new series, arrives at a moment when debates on the relationship between Francophone Studies and postcolonial theory are increasingly preoccupying scholars in this area. * Modern Language Review *

Long Description

The recent rise of Francophone studies within French studies has created the need for a one-volume exploration of the range of expression in the French language following the colonial period. Francophone Post-Colonial Cultures collects discussions of literary texts and cultural identity from Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia--regions of the world that seem to have only the French language in common. Despite enormous differences among all the countries where French is spoken, Francophone literatures tend to deal with a similar spread of issues. This volume positions the study of the Francophone world and its cultures as a comparative project, in which post-colonial Francophone cultures and the specific alterity of these cultures emerge as inextricable from and essential to an understanding of modern France. Organized by region, boasting an international roster of contributors, and including summaries of selected creative and critical works and a guide to selected terms and figures, Francophone Post-Colonial Cultures is an ideal resource for scholars of French literature and advanced students looking to read beyond the French literary canon.

Review Quote

We teachers and scholars in "Francophonie" need books like this one that re-examine the terms, the history, and the cultures of the French-speaking world. This volume promises to be not only international, but transnational in its reach and purpose. I see this book as a great resource for the classroom.

Feature

-Summaries of selected creative and critical works

Details