Writing Britain:Empire, Beyond

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Since the June 1948 arrival in Tilbury, England of the Empire Windrush, carrying hundreds of West Indians to their new home, Britain has been reinvented by communities of citizens from its various former colonies. This evolution has been warmly welcomed by some and violently resisted by others but has undeniably altered the landscape of British cultural life – as the British Empire had previously altered the rest of the globe irreversibly. The confrontations, conflicts, tragedies, harmonies, and mutations of colonialism and postcolonialism are constructed, confronted, and reflected in literary texts that span the twentieth century and beyond. In this course, we’ll consider some historical conditions and writing from the heyday of British imperialism and then go on to read a selection of work by writers of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds who have been significant contributors to the changing cultural and literary scene of Britain and its former colonies. We’ll explore issues of economic disparity, race, gender, environmental impact, and national identity. Participation in discussions and debates is required, helping to further develop your analytical and communication skills. Short written assignments will build towards a final research essay.