Postcolonial Discontents - LIR 610

“What is English about English literature?” writes Salman Rushdie, effectively giving voice to a primary theme and preoccupation of postcolonial literary theory. In this course we will read both postcolonial theory and postcolonial literatures, so as to gain some appreciation of these forms of writing and critical inquiry. Novels include Maalouf’s “An Imaginary Life,” Harris’ “Palace of the Peacock,” Rhys’ “Wide Sargasso Sea,” Conrad’s “Lord Jim,” and Morrison’s “Beloved.”