Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures
From: Prem Kumar Poddar [mailto:engpp@hum.au.dk]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2003 4:01 PM
Subject: historical companion to postcolonial literatures
A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures
We invite you to contribute (500/ 2500-word) entry/entries listed in the attachment for our [one-]volume A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures, under contract with Edinburgh University Press. The details of the project are set out in more detail below, and include:
1. Description of the Historical Companion
2. Guidelines for entries
3. Practical information for contributors
For each entry, we require (1) a summary of the event/idea/movement/figure; (2) a short bibliography providing reading for further historical enquiry; and (3) a short discussion and list of postcolonial literary texts that narrate or engage with the event/idea/movement/figure.
Please indicate which entry/entries you would be interested in writing, and send us any credentials you have for the topic [or a statement of specific interest]. Entries will then be assigned by the editors.
Please note that entries marked with an asterisk are already taken.
Payment will be a hardbound copy of the Companion along with a 40% discount on EUP publications. Offers must be made by 15 June 2003. The deadline for submission of entries is 31 August 2003.
Thanks for your interest in the project. Should you have any further questions, please get in touch with us.
Best wishes.
Prem Poddar David Johnson
Department of English Department of Literature
University of Aarhus The Open University
8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
1. Description of the Historical Companion
The critical ambition of A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures is to encourage the reading of postcolonial literatures in their historical context(s). To this end, the book assembles 220 entries (see attachment) on major events, ideas, movements, and figures in postcolonial histories. Each entry provides: a critical summary of the event/idea/movement/figure a short bibliography providing reading for further historical enquiry a short list (and discussion) of postcolonial literary texts that narrate or engage with the event/idea/movement/figure.
- For 500-word entries, the list of histories and literary texts to succeed the entry (no discussion of the literary texts in the entry itself).
- For 2500-word, a maximum of 750 words allocated to discussion of the literary texts in the body of the entry.
As the scope of postcolonial literature is extensive, the focus in the Companion is on [limited in that entries are confined to] historical events of significance to the postcolonial literatures of the Anglophone world ? East, West, Southern Africa, South Asia, South-east Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East/North Africa, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Canada. By outlining the historical contexts of postcolonial literary texts, the Companion aims to enhance [will provide an important key to] the reader's understanding of complex debates about race, colonialism, gender, politics, economics and language.
Furthermore, related events/ideas/movements/figures will be cross-referenced, and an index will guide readers from particular literary texts to their relevant historical entries in a clear and accessible fashion. It is expected to become an indispensable reference for students, teachers, and general readers alike.
Advisory Editorial Board
The list of entries has been finalized following extensive consultation with our editorial advisory board. The editorial advisory board includes: Stephen Alomes, Karin Barber, Shirley Chew, David Day, Denise DeCaires Narain, Justin Edwards, Laura Fair, Robert Fraser, Bill Freund, Katie Gramich, Suman Gupta, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Shirley Lim, Neil Lazarus, Robert Morrell, Geoff Nash, Susheila Nasta, Benita Parry, David Richards, Minoli Salgado, Sanjay Subramanian, Mimi Sheller, Kelwyn Sole, and Dennis Walder.
2. Guidelines for entries
Two sample entries on "The Cattle Killing" (Southern Africa) (500 words) and "Subaltern Studies" (India) (2500 words) are given below. In addition to conforming to [following] the style [guide used in] of the sample entries, please follow the guidelines below: Please keep quotations to a minimum, but provide full bibliographical details for all cited works. Also provide full bibliographical details for texts listed. Please identify key terms that you would like to be included in the Index. Please indicate possible cross-references for your entry to other entries in the Companion. It is absolutely essential that you not exceed the number of words assigned to your entry or entries.
3. Practical Details
Potential authors will submit statements of interest by email (Please include a mailing address and a brief (two-sentence) description of yourself, including academic affiliation, if any). Offers must be made by 15 June 2003.
After receiving statements of interest and credentials, the editors will assign specific entries to authors. Contracts will then follow from the publisher. Preliminary acceptance of the assignment should be indicated
by return email.
Entries will be due by 31 August 2003, and there will be no extensions. Entries should be submitted both in hard copy [printed form] and by email in Word format to one of the editors.
General Entries All 500-word entries.
1. Anglicization*
2. Anti-colonialism (see regional entries)
3. Arms trade
4. Assimilation (see regional entries)
5. Berlin Conference
6. British Empire
7. Commonwealth
8. Decolonization
9. Diasporas (see regional entries)
10. Free Trade
11. Globalization
12. HIV/AIDS
13. IMF and World Bank
14. Imperialism
15. Islam (see regional entries)
16. Land Rights (see regional entries)
17. Marxism (see regional entries)
18. Missionaries (see regional entries)
19. Multinationals
20. Nationalism (see regional entries)*
21. Non-aligned Movement
22. Refugees (see regional entries)
23. Slavery (see regional entries)
24. United Nations
25. World War I*
26. World War II*
27. Postcolonial? US (2500)*
28. Postcolonial? Ireland (2500)*
South-East Asia
1. Anglo-Burmese Wars *[Thomas Henthorme]
2. Aung San Suu Kyi*
3. Bumiputras* [Mohamad Abdul Quayum]
4. Communism
5. East Timor
6. Engmalchin *[Philip Holden]
7. Historiography (2500)*[Rajeev Patke]
8. Hong Kong Handover *[Shirley Lim]
9. Japanese Occupation* [Leong Liew Geok]
10. Lee Kuan Yew*
11. Merdeka * (Wang Soak Koon]
12. Martial law and the Marcoses *
13. The Opium Wars*
14. Plantation Economy
15. Postcolonial urbanism (2500)* [Ryan Bishop]
16. Spanish-American War *
17. Straits Settlements*
18. Tomasites*
19. Vietnam War*
20. Women's Histories (2500)*