Magical Realism in West African Fiction

by Brenda Cooper

This study contextualizes magical realism within current debates and theories of postcoloniality and examines the fiction of three of its West African Syl Cheney-Coker of Sierra Leone, Ben Okri of Nigeria and Kojo Laing of Ghana. Brenda Cooper explores the distinct elements of the genre in a West African context, and in relation
* a range of global expressions of magical realism, from the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez to that of Salman Rushdie
* wider contemporary trends in African writing, with particular attention to how the realism of authors such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka has been connected with nationalist agendas.
This is a fascinating and important work for all those working on African literature, magical realism, or postcoloniality.

258 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 1998

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Reviews

[Roos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but didn't agree with conclusion.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read cover to cover, but there's definitely food for thought here.