This book offers an account of how the modern idea of the literary emerged, through the colonial archives. Situated at the cusp of postcolonialism and world literature, it offers a multilingual, multicultural, and comparative account of how literature became one of the most powerful cultural expressions of modernity.
Texts, Territories, Globalizations
The book critiques the concept of world literature as an analytical framework, arguing that it is inherently tied to colonial histories and has lost its significance in the postcolonial context. It delves into the historical implications of 19th-century ideals of literature, suggesting that the expectations associated with world literature have been overshadowed by postcolonial perspectives, particularly in relation to Anglophone narratives. Through this lens, it engages with ongoing debates in postcolonial studies, challenging traditional notions of literary value and representation.