Richard Peck

A Morbid Fascination

White Prose and Politics in Apartheid South Africa

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Using a broad range of literature to examine the political culture of white South Africa, Peck finds both a preoccupation with political issues and a dislike for politics. The literature examined ranges from South African propaganda, through a variety of bestsellers-adventure stories and mystery novels written by authors such as Wilbur Smith and James McClure-to self-conscious literary works of the canonical white South African authors such as Alan Paton, André Brink, and Nadine Gordimer. The study gives attention to anti-political features of the liberal tradition that dominated South African writing, and to the failure of writers who undermined that tradition to generate a more positive view of politics. The morbid fascination with politics that is found across the full spectrum of creative writing is a reflection of the circumstances in which writers found themselves, but it is still a worrisome feature of the white South African political culture.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Praeger
• Seitenzahl: 214
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. Februar 1997
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 507g
• ISBN-13: 9780313300912
• ISBN-10: 0313300917
• Artikelnr.: 22065690

Autorenporträt

RICHARD PECK is Professor of International Affairs at Lewis and Clark College. He trained in Political Science and International Relations at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Yale University. A specialist in African and other Third World politics, and in international organizations, Peck has published in Research in African Literatures, World Literature Written in English, The Journal of Contemporary African Studies, The African Studies Review, and other journals.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface The Morbid Fascination with Politics in South African Prose Beware
the Gaboon Adder: Wilbur Smith's Purple Prose and Propaganda The Mystery of
McClure's Trekkersburg Mysteries: Text and Non-Reception in South Africa
More Mysteries Against Apartheid: Bosman, Ebersohn, and Drummond
Progressively Anti-Political: Recent Anti-Apartheid Best-Sellers The
Liberal Tradition in South African Writing: Alan Paton and Laurens van der
Post Undermining the Liberal Tradition: Dan Jacobson, Phyllis Altman, and
Mary Benson Condemned to Choose, But What? Existentialism in South African
Writing in English Nadine Gordimer's Morbid Fascination with Politics The
Play of Politics in South African Theater Conclusion Selected Bibliography
Index