{"product_id":"narrative-shape-shifting-arlene-a-elder-9781847010124","title":"Narrative Shape-Shifting: Myth, Humor and History in the Fiction of Ben Okri, B. Kojo Laing and Yvonne Vera","description":"The hybrid novels of Ben Okri, B. Kojo Laing, and Yvonne Vera address contemporary African politics in contrasting styles but complementary religious, cultural, and feminist approaches. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eResponding to many of the same neo-colonial concerns as earlier African writers, Ben Okri, B. Kojo Laing and Yvonne Vera bring contemporary, hybrid voices to their novels that explore spiritual, cultural and feminist solutions toAfrica's complex post-independence dilemmas. Their work is informed by both African and western traditions, especially the influences of traditional oral storytelling and post-modern fictional experimentation. Yet each is unique: \u003cbr\u003e Ben Okri is a religious writer steeped in the metaphysical complexities of a traditional symbiosis of physical and spiritual co-existence; \u003cbr\u003e B. Kojo Laing's humor grounds itself in linguistic play and outrageous characterization;\u003cbr\u003e Yvonne Vera translates her eco-feminist hope in political and social transformation with a focus on the developing political actions of Zimbabwean women.\u003cbr\u003e All three reflect on the colonial and post-independence turmoil in their respective countries of birth - Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Together, they represent the evolution of a brilliant contemporary generation of post-independence voices. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ARLENE A. ELDER is Professor ofWomen's Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She is the author of The Hindered Hand: Cultural Implications of Nineteenth-Century African-American Fiction and has published essays and articles on African, African-American, Native-American and Australian Aboriginal literatures and orature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Arlene A. Elder\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1847010121\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781847010124\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e James Currey\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/19\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 174\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.80lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.00w x 0.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eReference and Research Bk News\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/2010 pg. 299","brand":"Arlene A. Elder","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48440062017791,"sku":"9781847010124","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_83374d98-0ff5-40c8-9757-85d5b4c5e1d1.jpg?v=1777180234","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/narrative-shape-shifting-arlene-a-elder-9781847010124","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}