Novels and the Nation: Essays in Canadian LiteratureWhatever it has meant historically and come to mean today, Canadian identity has always been felt passionately, even as Canadian nationhood has been perceived to be at the brink, under attack from forces both withing and without the country. In these eighteen essays Frank Birbalsingh discusses the evolution of Canadian identity and nationhood as reflected, predominantly, in the English fiction of this country, from the writings of the first British expatriate, though the colonial, Empire-conscious works of the nineteenth century, to the strongly nationalistic literary consciousness of the mid-twentieth century and finally the contemporary works of a multicultural contry continually transforming itself. This is a timely work, with fresh insights on over thirty writers, including Sara Jeanette Duncan, Stephen Leacock, Mordecai Richler, Marian Engel, Austin Clarke, Robertson Davies, Ethel Wilson, and considerations of Native, Jewish, Caribbean and South Asian writers. |
Contents
Novels and the Nation | 1 |
Aboriginals in Canadian Literature | 6 |
France in the Canadian Novel | 15 |
Copyright | |
16 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
aboriginals achievement action African American appears attitudes Bear become believe British Canada Canadian Caribbean century characters chief close colonial comes completely concerned consistent cultural deal death describes disorder dominant Duncan's early effect English essay European example experience expresses fact feeling fiction forced France French girl gives groups hero human identity immigrants imperialism implies Indian influence interest lack land later Laurence Laurence's Leacock's less literary literature living look means Monica moral mother natural never North America novels origin perhaps poems political present produced provides provincial Québec reflects regarded relationship remains reveals Sargeson seems seen sense sexual similar social society South stories suggests technique theme things thoughts tion Toronto traditional universe values victims West whole women writing
References to this book
Nervous Reactions: Victorian Recollections of Romanticism Joel Faflak,Julia M. Wright Limited preview - 2004 |