Dark Antonyms and Paradise: The Poetry of Rienzi Crusz

by Chelva Kanaganayakam

The poetry and prose of Rienzi Crusz are about many things - exile, identity, family, religion, politics and racism - and this work is an attempt to demonstrate that the various facets are a result of a holistic vision that transcends narrow labels. Crusz is best known in Canada as a diasporic writer, committed to exploring the complexities of living between and among two worlds. This study goes beyond binary formulations to argue that while such markers are necessary, full of understanding of the poet's achievement requires that personal history, the political context of migration, poetic influences, and readership in Canada be taken into account. A carefully researched and definite study, "Dark Antonyms and Paradise" offers an insightful reading of the work of a major Sri Lankan Canadian poet.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Chelva Kanaganayakam was a professor of English at the University of Toronto and a scholar of postcolonial literature.