Book
Culture Wars in British Literature: Multiculturalism and National Identity
(2012)
Abstract
The past century's culture wars that Britain has been consumed by have resulted in revised notions of Britishness and British literature. Yet literary anthologies remain anchored to an archaic Anglo-English interpretation of British literature. This generalist cultural study is a fascinating glimpse into Britain's changing identity as reflected in 20th and 21st century British literature. Conflicts have played out over specific national vs. British identity (some residents prefer to describe themselves as being from Scotland, England, Wales, or Northern Ireland instead of Britain), in debates over immigration, race, ethnicity, class, and gender, and in arguments over British literature. These debates are strikingly detailed in such chapters as: "The Difficulty Defining 'Black British'," "British Jewish Writers" and "Xenophobia and the Booker Prize." Connections are also drawn between civil rights movements in the U.S. and UK.
Reviews:
"Tracy Prince's book brings an impressive set of voices into dialogue on the complexity of community-building and national identity--analyzing important aspects of British culture which are not fully represented in anthologies or literary histories."
R. Victoria Arana, Professor of English, Howard University
"Writing with great lucidity and welcome originality, Tracy J. Prince explores how an increasingly multicultural Britain defines itself, and is defined, through literature and a literary establishment still dominated by an Anglo-English elite."
Tamar Heller, Associate Professor of English & Comparative Literature, University of Cincinnati
"It is precisely in its analysis of this 'Anglo centeredness' and its sensitive treatment of the many other voices that comprise modern British writing that this books strength lies. We have no hesitation in recommending 'Culture Wars in British Literature' to anyone with an interest in the complexities of modern British culture and in particular the difficulty of establishing a separate and distinct Anglo-Welsh identity within the mainstream."
Ceri Shaw, AmeriCymru's "Welsh Magazine"
T]his book is near flawless…an incredible source of information. Using literature as a starting point, Prince delves into [Britain’s] history with many forms of discrimination. She does an exceptional job detailing each of these histories and explaining how they affect Britain today. Whether you are actively studying British literature or are just interested in how another country deals with (and continues to justify) racism, classism, sexism, and anti-Semitism, you will find lots of useful, surprising, and relevant information in 'Culture Wars in British Literature.' -"San Francisco Book Review"
Contents:
Foreword by Thomas C. Caramagno
Introduction: Mind the Gap
1. The Imploded Empire: Literary Reactions to Britain's Changed Empire
2. The Difficulty Defining British Literature
3. The Difficulty Defining "Black British"
4. Two Nations: Class Issues in Contemporary British Literature
5. British Jewish Writers
6. Xenophobia and the Booker Prize
7. Britain's "New" Multicultural Identity
Appendix I: Man Booker Prize Winners
Appendix II: International Man Booker Prize Winners
Appendix III: Orange Prize Winners
Keywords
- national identity,
- nationalism,
- multiculturalism,
- British,
- English,
- Scottish,
- Welsh,
- Northern Irish,
- British-Jewish writers,
- Booker Prize,
- Black British,
- 20th century literature,
- 21st century literature,
- history,
- immigration,
- civil rights movement
Disciplines
- Arts and Humanities,
- Comparative Literature,
- English Language and Literature,
- Literature in English, British Isles,
- Women's Studies,
- History,
- Cultural History,
- European History,
- History of Religion,
- Labor History,
- Political History,
- Social History,
- Women's History,
- History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology,
- Modern Literature,
- Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies,
- African American Studies,
- Ethnic Studies,
- History of Religions of Western Origin,
- Civil Rights and Discrimination,
- Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication and
- Race and Ethnicity
Publication Date
September 7, 2012
Publisher
McFarland & Company, Inc.
ISBN
978-0786462940
Publisher Statement
Foreword / by Thomas C. Caramagno -- Preface -- Introduction : mind the gap -- The imploded empire : literary reactions to Britain's changed empire -- The difficulty defining British literature -- The difficulty defining "Black British" -- Two nations : class issues in contemporary British literature -- British Jewish writers -- Xenophobia and the Booker Prize -- Britain's "new" multicultural identity -- Appendix I : Man Booker Prize winners -- Appendix II : international Man Booker Prize winners -- Appendix III : Orange Prize winners.
Reviews:
Tracy Prince's book brings an impressive set of voices into dialogue on the complexity of community-building and national identity--analyzing important aspects of British culture which are not fully represented in anthologies or literary histories.-R. Victoria Arana, Professor of English, Howard University
Writing with great lucidity and welcome originality, Tracy J. Prince explores how an increasingly multicultural Britain defines itself, and is defined, through literature and a literary establishment still dominated by an Anglo-English elite.
-Tamar Heller, Associate Professor of English & Comparative Literature, University of Cincinnati
"It is precisely in its analysis of this 'Anglo centeredness' and its sensitive treatment of the many other voices that comprise modern British writing that this books strength lies. We have no hesitation in recommending 'Culture Wars in British Literature' to anyone with an interest in the complexities of modern British culture and in particular the difficulty of establishing a separate and distinct Anglo-Welsh identity within the mainstream."
--Ceri Shaw, AmeriCymru's "Welsh Magazine"
Citation Information
Tracy J. Prince. Culture Wars in British Literature: Multiculturalism and National Identity. Jefferson, N.C.(2012) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tracy-prince/4/