Centres and Peripheries in Literatures

For millennia, literature across the globe has captured the essence of life, survival, and human relationships – how we come together and how we fall apart. These stories, born from diverse cultures and perspectives, transcend time and space to resonate with audiences far beyond their origins. Literature, a tapestry woven from many threads of logic, teaches us to embrace complexity and reject simplistic thinking. “Centres and Peripheries in Literature...” invites us to question why some works become classics while others fade into obscurity. In an age striving to define “world literature,” this book is especially relevant, examining the forces that shape literary canons and the interplay between Western and non- Western traditions. It boldly confronts the dominance of hegemonic canonism, shedding light on the power dynamics that determine which voices are heard and which are silenced.

“This important book addresses issues of legitimization and consecration of literary works from around the world, highlighting how non-Western authors are pushed to the peripheries while Western authors are moved to the centre. It offers diverse perspectives on these dynamics.” Viviane Koua, (PhD) Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures, Auburn University, Auburn AL. USA.

“Centres and Peripheries in Literatures: Interrogating Hegemonic Canonism critically examines how power dynamics between the Global North and South shape literary canons, urging scholars and readers to contemplate and recognize marginalized voices from the Global South.” Achirri Ismael, (PhD) Assistant Professor of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, USA.