Edited by Prem Poddar, Rajeev Patke and Lars Jensen

Regional Editors: John Beverley, Charles Forsdick, Pierre-Phillipe Fraiture, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Theo d’ Haen, Lars Jensen, Birthe Kundrus, Elizabeth Monasterios, Phillip Rothwell

This is the first reference guide to the political, cultural and economic histories that form the subject-matter of postcolonial literatures written in European languages. The focus of the Companion is principally on the histories of postcolonial literatures that have their provenance in the major European Empires-–France, Germany, Holland, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark and Spain—and in the worlds of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. There are also long entries discussing the literatures and histories of those further areas that can claim the title ‘postcolonial’, notably Turkey and Russia.

The Companion contains 240 entries written by more than 150 acknowledged scholars of postcolonial history and literature, and covers major events, ideas, movements, and figures in postcolonial histories. In addition to the lengthy introduction for each region, there are survey essays on anti-colonial resistance, historiography, women’s histories, and narratives and fictions of empire. The majority of the entries focus on the moment of the European countries’ expansion, exploration, and settlement overseas while demonstrating the gravity of those histories on the present. Other entries on nationalisms, ethnic struggles, migrancy, etc. deal directly with the postcolonial present. Each entry provides a summary of the historical event or topic, as well as bibliographies of postcolonial literary works and histories for further reading. Extensive cross-references and indexes enable readers to locate particular literary texts in their relevant historical contexts, as well as to discover related literary texts and histories in other regions with ease.

By outlining the historical contexts of postcolonial literatures, the Companion provides an important key to understanding complex contemporary debates about race, colonialism and neo-colonialism, politics, economics, culture and language. Its coverage of events, figures and movements along with political, social, and economic developments makes this indispensable reading for students, teachers and general readers alike.