Description
Book SynopsisThis book identifies the forces behind the explosive growth in Asian American literature. It charts its emergence and explores both the unique place of Asian Americans in American culture and what that place says about the way Americanness is defined.
Trade Review"This is a well-researched, precisely written text that contributes much to the fields of ethnic studies, Asian American studies, and literary criticism. The author demonstrates intellectual breadth and versatility as he attempts to map an Asian American corpus of literature. . . . A rich and valuable work." --
American Studies"This is an excellent study of Asian American narratives . . . a shrewdly argued scholarly achievement." --
Choice"Li provides an original, penetrating, and sophisticated analysisi of canon-formation, literarty representation, and ethnic agency that makes an importatn contribution ot the field." --
Journal of Asian American StudiesTable of ContentsIntroduction: alienation, abjection, and Asian American citizenship; Part I. Emergence: 1. Aiiieeeee! and the predicament of Asian American articulation; 2. Can Maxine Hong Kingston speak? The contingency of The Woman Warrior; Part II. Claiming America: 3. Canon, collaboration, and the corporeality of culture; 4. American romances, immigrant incarnations; Part III. Whither Asia: 5. Genes, generation, and geospiritual (be)longings; 6. Eccentric homes: topography; pedagogy, and memory; Part IC. Representation Reconsidered: 7. The look, the act, the transvestic, and the transpirational Asian; 8. Ethnic agency and the challenge of representation; Conclusion: Asian American identity in difference and Diaspora; Notes; Index.
