Fieldwork of Empire, 1840-1900: Intercultural Dynamics in the Production of British Expeditionary Literature (Among the Victorians and Modernists)

Book Details

• Publisher: Routledge

• Author: Adrian S. Wisnicki

• Language: English

• Edition: 1st Edition

• ISBN: 9780367207458

• Pages: 206

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches

About The Book
Fieldwork of Empire, 1840-1900: Intercultural Dynamics in the Production of British Expeditionary Literature by Adrian S. Wisnicki critically examines the significant influence of non-western cultural, political, and social forces on the creation of British expeditionary literature during the nineteenth century. The book argues that such impacts, often overlooked, shaped the discursive and material aspects of expeditionary literature, offering a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this genre.

The focus of the study is on Victorian expeditionary literature related to Africa, a region of increasing British imperial interest, yet the insights gleaned are applicable to European expeditionary, imperial, and colonial literature across various periods and regions. Through an illustrative rather than comprehensive analysis, Wisnicki explores the intercultural dynamics between British expeditionaries and African societies, highlighting how these encounters influenced literary production. Each chapter targets a specific time period and African region, providing critical reflections on the relationship between expeditionary writing and non-western cultures.

Wisnicki’s work calls for a shift in future scholarship to incorporate more localized, non-western perspectives, particularly in fields such as expeditionary history, geography, travel writing, and book history. This book serves as a vital contribution to the rethinking of how imperial literature is studied and understood, offering a broader and more inclusive account of the production of imperial discourse and literature.