Steep stairs to myself

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The British colonial project has often been framed as a cultural clash followed by resistance from the colonised. This study challenges that view by examining hybridity as relevant to initial contact situations, shifting from an intercultural to a transcultural perspective on Anglicisation's effects. It argues that contemporary identity formation in the Anglophone world, rooted in colonialism, can be understood through the lens of "transitionality." The exploration of "transitional identity" is primarily found in the autobiographical narratives of those experiencing this state, making autobiography the central focus of the study. Traditional autobiography theory is deemed inadequate for understanding "transitionality," prompting an analysis of diverse, individualized autobiographies from various global regions using a new theoretical framework. This approach highlights the importance of "transitional autobiography" in re-evaluating postcolonial theory and redefining literary self-representation. Martina Ghosh-Schellhorn, the initiator of Transcultural Anglophone Studies (TAS) and Professor of New English Literatures and Cultures at Saarland University, Germany, has authored several significant works, including studies on Anthony Burgess and edited volumes on women’s writing and Anglophone India.