From Colonial Childhood to Political Crisis: Peter Godwin and Zimbabwean Life Writing

Research summary

The purpose of this research is to study the Rhodesian discourse in the autobiographical writing of Peter Godwin, a Rhodesian-born writer living in New York today. A great number of memoirs and autobiographical texts by white Rhodesian/Zimbabwean writers have emerged during the last fifteen years, and several of these writers, including Godwin, have been criticized for reviving a Rhodesian discourse which means holding on to colonial attitudes and ideals. My aim is to determine to what extent this is really the case in Peter Godwin's writing. I also examine what parallels can be drawn and conclusions made in relation to other white Zimbabwean autobiography.

Description

Research info

Research title
From Colonial Childhood to Political Crisis: Peter Godwin and Zimbabwean Life Writing

Research timeline
1.4.2013 - 1.4.2017

Keywords
autobiography Literature Peter Godwin Rhodesian discourse

Region
Africa

Countries
Finland, Zimbabwe

Institution
Åbo Akademi University
English language and literature
Turku, Finland

Head of research
Lena Englund

Contact information

Record last updated
29.1.2015