Orienting Masculinity, Orienting Nation - W.somerset Maugham's Exotic Fiction

Informationen zum Autor PHILIP HOLDEN is a Lecturer at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Born in England, he has studied and taught in Europe, North America, and East Asia. Klappentext Although their settings span a wide geographical area, from the South Pacific to India, Maugham's exotic short stories, novels, and travelogues all, ultimately, focus on the creation of a masculine British identity. In this first book to address Maugham's fiction in light of recent developments in postcolonial, gender, and cultural theory, Holden argues that Maugham's work can be understood as an attempt to negotiate between two alternative masculine identities: those of private homosexual and public writer. Holden identifies Maugham's attempts to cultivate a public persona as a writer whose heterosexuality is confirmed through a process of control of language. Furthermore, Holden illuminates the fluidity of language that Maugham, in contrast to his public persona, associated with homosexuality. The basis of this study is the provocative notion that Maugham's texts, despite their exotic locations, ultimately dramatize a struggle over masculine British identity. Zusammenfassung Although their settings span a wide geographical area! from the South Pacific to India! Maugham's exotic short stories! novels! and travelogues all! ultimately! focus on the creation of a masculine British identity. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction Envisioning the Primitive: The Moon and Sixpence The Trembling of a Leaf and the Closet of Nostalgia The Flâneur Abroad: On A Chinese Screen The Empty Sign of The Painted Veil Transgression and Containment: The Malayan Short Stories The Narrow Corner: Intoxication, Homoeroticism, and the Writing Cure Transcending Sexuality: India and The Razor's Edge Conclusion Bibliography Index

Product details

• Authors: Philip Holden, Philip J. Holden, Holden Philip J.
• Publisher: Greenwood Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.2008
• EAN: 9780313298127
• ISBN: 978-0-313-29812-7
• No. of pages: 184
• Series: Contributions to the Study of; Contributions to the Study of; Contributions to the Study of World Literature
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, LITERARY CRITICISM / Novel as Form, The Arts: World Literature