Conversations of motherhood
South African women's writing across traditions
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Published:30th May '15
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The subject of motherhood is interwoven with themes of survival, power and identity. It is also at the heart of any consideration of women’s writing.
Conversations of Motherhood sensitively charts common themes, intersecting experiences and related tropes within the cultural specificities of South African society. Exploring this space, in turn, provides a lens for cross-cultural reading that draws on various local ways of knowing and the workings of agency.
`Dialogics’, the critical approach developed here, lies at the intersection of transnational feminist criticism, a postcolonial critique of modernity and a close exploration of Mikhail Bakhtin’s work. This method offers striking rewards when comparatively pairing Zoë Wicomb with Pamphilia Hlapa, Sindiwe Magona with Marlene van Niekerk, Ellen Kuzwayo with Antjie Krog and Elsa Joubert with Wilma Stockenström.
'[An] exciting achievement and an important contribution to the study of the literatures and cultures of South Africa as well as to the field of interdisciplinary postcolonial studies. Through the rhythm of Robbe's discursive text a beautiful balance is found: theoretical complexity is combined with the lucidity of close reading and arguments. Her choice of combinations is astute and enlightening. Motherhood has never been read and analysed in this way before.' - Professor Ena Jansen, University of Amsterdam. '[A] great pleasure to read. This book adopts a stimulating and productive way of addressing the existing literature and will be welcomed by those who wish to read a fresh and informative study of South African women's writing set within the fields of gender and African studies.' - Professor Eva Hunter, University of the Western Cape.
ISBN: 9781869142889
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
328 pages