The Cambridge History of South African Literature

Description

South Africa's unique history has produced literatures in many languages, in both oral and written forms, reflecting the diversity in the cultural histories and experiences of its people. The Cambridge History offers a comprehensive, multi-authored history of South African literature in all eleven official languages (and more minor ones) of the country, produced by a team of over forty international experts, including contributors from all of the major regions and language groups of South Africa. It will provide a complete portrait of South Africa's literary production, organised as a chronological history from the oral traditions existing before colonial settlement, to the post-apartheid revision of the past. In a field marked by controversy, this volume is more fully representative than any existing account of South Africa's literary history. It will make a unique contribution to Commonwealth, international and postcolonial studies and serve as a definitive reference work for decades to come.

David Attwell is Professor of English at the University of York. Derek Attridge is Professor of English at the University of York.

'Ambitiously conceptualized and wonderfully realized, The Cambridge History of South African Literature provides a unique and valuable addition to the field of scholarship on South African literatures.' Journal of African History '... [an] ambitious and learned book ... This book will intrigue readers ... a rich study which draws on an exceptionally broad range of primary sources ...' Journal of Continuity and Change