Other Englishes: Essays on Commonwealth Writing

The essays in this anthology, a representative selection of papers presented at a seminar on Commonwealth literature, explore the many issues raised by the phrase Commonwealth Writing. Among the topics discussed are the nature and validity of the rubric Commonwealth Writing, the emotional or political justification for using a foreign language for creative purposes and the problems faced by Third World writers in reaching readers. The essays cover a wide geographic expanse, from Australia through India and Africa to Canada and the West Inches. Prominent writers such as Naipaul, Achebe and Walcott, as well, as not-so-famous writers who have contributed in significant ways come in for a share of the discussion. The anthology marks a valuable addition to the emerging body of critical commentary on Commonwealth Writing and is important reading for all those interested in the subject.