Justin D. Edwards and Rune Graulund (eds), "Postcolonial Travel Writing: Critical Explorations" (Book Note)

 

Postcolonial travel writing stands at the crossroads of diverse academic disciplines, emerging as a pivotal area of scholarly exploration in recent times. Intrinsically tied to a tapestry of critical issues such as imperialism, diaspora, multiculturalism, nationalism, gender, identity, globalization, and postcolonialism, it grapples with complex notions like transculturation, center-periphery dynamics, border crossings, hybrid identities, and the profound impact of location and displacement on the human experience. Travel itself signifies a departure from the familiar to the unfamiliar, thrusting the traveler into an alien realm distinct from their homeland. This newfound terrain often presents a challenge to one's sense of self, spotlighting the dialectic between the self and the other. Consequently, the genre of travel writing raises critical questions: How does postcolonial travel literature portray notions of identity, selfhood, and otherness? Can travel serve as a catalyst for the discovery of one's identity?

 

The editors of "Postcolonial Travel Writing" underscore that the term 'postcolonial' introduces the potential for dislocation, disjunction, and even rupture when coupled with travel writing—an arena that has come under scrutiny within postcolonial discourse. Their intention is to challenge complacency by unsettling established critical domains and decentralizing dominant theoretical frameworks. This introductory gesture situates travel writing within the expansive realm of postcolonial studies, delineating the thematic terrain that it encompasses. A particularly insightful discussion is offered on Amitav Ghosh's "In An Antique Land," a text that subverts conventional colonial travel narratives and critiques the very notion of a travelogue.

 

The critical thrust of postcolonial travel writing is not confined to a mere act of "writing back" against established narratives. Instead, it dissects and critiques Eurocentric travel accounts, offering alternative perspectives that contest the Euro-American narrative hegemony. The essays in this volume tackle the conventional perception that travel writing is inherently colonial, engaging with texts that convey a sense of decentering from European and North American perspectives, as well as from the overarching forces of Empire and globalization.

 

This collection, authored by scholars from around the globe, constitutes a comprehensive examination of postcolonial travel writing. It spans a range of genres, encompassing literature, memoirs, essays, and travel histories. These essays grapple with the intricate interplay between place and space, identity formation, national belonging, and the concept of 'home.'

 

A pivotal theme explored in these essays is the transformative impact of globalization on travel. The authors emphasize the imperative to distinguish postcolonial travel writing from its eighteenth and nineteenth-century predecessors. They assert that postcolonial travel writing represents a more prolific and innovative form of textual expression, distinctly diverging from earlier travel narratives. Moreover, the essays elucidate how travel writing offers a plethora of perspectives on the dynamic interrelationship between place and self—a crucial concern within the ambit of postcolonial studies.

 

The first two essays anchor their discussions in Mary Louise Pratt's seminal work, "Imperial Eyes: Travel Writing and Transculturation" (1992). These essays not only reappraise Pratt's contributions but also underscore its enduring relevance in contemporary discussions of travel writing. A subsequent essay by B. Roy, "Disturbing Naipaul's Universal Civilization: Islam, Travel Narratives and the Limits of Westernization," extends from Pratt's framework to argue against interpreting Naipaul's work as an endorsement of Western hegemony. Instead, Roy contends that Naipaul's narratives offer a nuanced perspective on the complexities of globalization and cultural encounter.

 

R. Phillips' contribution, "Decolonizing Travel: James/Jan Morris's Geographies," introduces the notion of ambivalence—a concept capable of challenging entrenched dichotomies such as imperial/marginal, colonial/center, male/female, self/other. Through an examination of the work of transsexual writer Jan Morris, Phillips asserts that ambivalence opens up new avenues of inquiry in travel writing, emphasizing not only geographical change but also shifts in gender identity. This nuanced exploration demonstrates that travel writing transcends physical displacement, engaging with broader issues of identity and cultural exchange.

 

The texts under scrutiny encompass a diverse array of postcolonial travel literature, including works by V.S. Naipaul, Pico Iyer, Caryl Phillips, Denis Williams, Jamaica Kincaid, and William Dalrymple. These selections collectively offer a comprehensive panorama of postcolonial travel writing. Nevertheless, a dedicated chapter on Amitav Ghosh's "In An Antique Land," alluded to in the introduction, could have enriched the collection by providing a deeper engagement with Ghosh's groundbreaking work.

 

The anthology culminates in an insightful interview conducted by Tabish Khair, featuring two prominent figures in the realm of travel writing: William Dalrymple and Pankaj Mishra. Their reflections on the limitations, possibilities, and intricacies of the genre provide a fitting conclusion, consolidating many of the issues addressed in the preceding essays.