New National and Post-colonial Literatures provides a comparative and up-to-date introduction to colonial, new national and post-colonial literatures, and related criticism. While free of jargon and intended as an introduction to those new to the subject, the collection of original essays contributes to the ongoing discussion about the new literatures, and will also interest the specialist. Many of the contributors are acknowledged leaders in their fields. Besides examining the main concerns, opinions, and theories that have shaped discussion in this area, there is also a detailed bibliography of primary and secondary sources. The approach is comparative and by topic. The essays range from discussion of colonial literatures through nationalism to the internationalization of literature, multiculturalism, writing by post-colonial women, and analysis of the literature of the native peoples of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of the essays discuss creative writers and critics, including V. S. Naipaul, Derek Walcott, Chinua Achebe, Vikram Seth, Fred D'Aguiar, Anita Desai, and Jamaica Kincaid. Three essays discuss the history, development, and problems of theories of post-colonialism. New National and Post-colonial Literatures also centres upon the problems of categorizing literatures, and their politicization, and recognizes that in a time of massive migration, rapid international communication, and increased demands by minorities, national cultures are less stable than in the past and the very notion of national identity is changing.
