A continent of words: African settings in contemporary American novels

Abstract

This study examines the uses of African settings in American novels written since World War II. Chapter One discusses Western attitudes toward Africa, and Chapter Two describes the use of African settings in British and American novels written before World War II. Chapter Three examines novels set in invented African nations and demonstrates that contemporary American novels set in invented African nations convey the lesson that the religions, political, and tribal divisions that trouble actual African nations are the legacy of a colonial system that grouped different peoples under a single flag. Authors discussed in Chapter Three include Ross Thomas, Lawrence Sanders, John Updike, Michael Mewshaw, and Philip Caputo. Chapter Four discusses African settings in novels written by African Americans. African Americans who set their work in Africa are often concerned with correcting the historical record, detailing the horrors of the slave trade, and demonstrating that Africa is the home of many advanced cultures and peoples. Writers discussed in Chapter Four include Frank Yerby, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Alex Haley, Charles Johnson, and Alice Walker. Chapter Five examines the use of African settings in genre fiction written by contemporary American novelists and maintains that the old traditions associated with Africa are very much alive in contemporary American novels of science fiction, action and adventure, and history. These novels often rise above genre expectations and deal with serious themes. Authors discussed in this chapter include William S. Burroughs, Michael Crichton, Robert Ruark, Saul Bellow, Michael Mewshaw, James Michener, James L. Haley, and William Harrison. Chapter Six discusses postmodern and postcolonial novels with African settings. While some of these novels reinforce traditional Western conceptions of Africa, others use African settings to question Western ways of understanding and shaping reality. Works discussed in Chapter Six include novels by Paul Bowles, Paul Theroux, Thomas Pynchon, Walter Abish, Maria Thomas, and Richard Dooling. Chapter Seven summarizes findings and suggests areas of further research.