The Cambridge Companion to Transnational American Literature

This book provides a new map of American literature in the global era, analyzing the multiple meanings of transnationalism.

Yogita Goyal (Edited by)

9781107085206, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 February 2017

280 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.2 cm, 0.6 kg

'… deeply thoughtful, rich in examples, indeed exemplary. … the book matters because the links between capitalism, imperialism, diasporas, and transnationalism, on the one hand, and literature, race, and gender, on the other, are not yet properly understood and consolidated into a strong theoretical frame. … Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.' K. Tölölyan, CHOICE

For two decades, the 'transnational turn' in literary studies has generated enormous comment and controversy. This Companion provides a comprehensive account of the scope, impact, and critical possibilities of the transnational turn in American literary studies. It situates the study of American literature in relation to ethnic, postcolonial, and hemispheric studies. Leading scholars open up wide-ranging examinations of transnationalism in American literature - through form and aesthetics, theories of nation, gender, sexuality, religion, and race, as well as through conventional forms of historical periodization. Offering a new map of American literature in the global era, this volume provides a history of the field, key debates, and instances of literary readings that convey the way in which transnationalism may be seen as a method, not just a description of literary work that engages more than one nation. Contributors identify the key modes by which writers have responded to major historical, political, and ethical issues prompted by the globalization of literary studies.

Introduction. The transnational turn Yogita Goyal
Part I. Shape of the Field: 1. Rethinking nation and empire Shelley Fisher Fishkin
2. American literature, world literature Wai Chee Dimock
3. The transnational turn and postcolonial studies Yogita Goyal
4. Transnational aesthetics Russ Castronovo
Part II. Literary Histories: 5. Transnationalism and nineteenth-century literature Johannes Voelz
6. Transnational modernisms Jessica Berman
7. Transnational postmodern and contemporary literature David James
Part III. Critical Geographies: 8. Black Atlantic and diaspora literature Destiny Birdsong and Ifeoma Nwankwo
9. Borders and borderland literature John Alba Cutler
10. American Indian transnationalisms Jodi Byrd
11. Pacific Rim and Asian American literature Viet Nguyen
12. Hemispheric literature Josefina Maria Saldaña
Part IV. Literature and Geopolitics: 13. Transnational feminism Crystal Parikh
14. Queer transnationalism Petrus Liu
15. Islam and transnationalism Timothy Marr.

Subject Areas: Literary companions, book reviews & guides [DSRC], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literary theory [DSA]