Postcolonialism? - modern Malaysia by K.S. Maniam
Book review
Article Title | Postcolonialism? - modern Malaysia by K.S. Maniam |
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Article Category | Book review |
Authors | |
Author | Gehrmann, Richard |
Journal Title | CRNLE Reviews Journal |
Journal Citation | pp. 211-213 |
Number of Pages | 3 |
Year | 1995 |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Abstract | The English language educational heritage that has passed on to writers in what were once colonies has had a significant impact on English literary history, yet as peripheral Australians we appear to receive this when it comes legitimised from the literary centre in Europe rather than from the margins, even though these margins might actually constitute the centre of our own region. One has only to consider the reception of 'Indian' writers in English such as Rushdie and Naipaul to appreciate this. Both are from the European centre whereas K.S. Maniam is part of the global periphery. Therefore, when we look at Maniam's The Return and In A Far Country, the opportunity exists for absorption of a new literature in English direct from its source, a source placed within our region. This is advantageous both in terms of pure literary pursuit and also in terms of understanding a region that perpetually fills non-Malaysians with cultural confusion. That Malaysia, the locale of these two novels, falls into this category as a nation with which Australia has had conflict in recent years makes the reading of Maniam's books a logical step for Australians seeking some insight into the region. |
Keywords | book review; colonial life; Malaysia |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 440808. International relations |
470213. Postcolonial studies | |
430301. Asian history | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Department of Humanities and International Studies |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q05z1/postcolonialism-modern-malaysia-by-k-s-maniam
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