Claiming the City in South African Literature

This book demonstrates the insights that literature brings to transdisciplinary urban studies, and particularly to the study of cities of the South. Starting from the claim staked by mining capital in the late nineteenth century and its production of extractive and segregated cities, it surveys over a century of writing in search of counterclaims through which the literature reimagines the city as a place of assembly and attachment. Focusing on how the South African city has been designed to funnel gold into the global economy and to service an enclaved minority, the study looks to the literary city to advance a contrary emphasis on community, conviviality and care.

An accessible and informative introduction to literature of the South African city at significant historical junctures, this book will also be of great interest to scholars and students in urban studies and Global South studies.

List of contents

1. Introduction 2. All that glitters 3. Light city, dark city 4. Resistant cities 5. Reassembling the city

About the author

Meg Samuelson is Associate Professor in English and Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and Associate Professor Extraordinaire at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She has published widely in South African, African, Global South and oceanic literary and cultural studies.

Summary

This book demonstrates the insights that literature brings to transdisciplinary urban studies, and particularly in the study of cities of the south. It surveys more than a century of South African writing with the aim of tracing the forms through which the city has been constituted and refigured in literature.

Product details

• Authors: Meg Samuelson, Meg (University of Adelaide Samuelson, Samuelson Meg
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 23.08.2021
• EAN: 9780367763930
• ISBN: 978-0-367-76393-0
• No. of pages: 116
• Series: Transdisciplinary Souths
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; SOCIAL SCIENCE / General, English, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / African, LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / General, Republic of South Africa, Urban & municipal planning, Literary studies: post-colonial literature, Literary theory, Urban communities, Regional Geography, Urban and municipal planning and policy, FICTION / Urban & Street Lit, Literary studies: postcolonial literature