Writing Postcolonial Childhood



This course examines the genre of autobiography based on the classical works of Patrick Chamoiseau (Antan d’enfance), Dany Laferrière (L’odeur du café) and Camara Laye (L’enfant noir). The special forms of autobiography in twentieth century francophone literature of Africa and West Indies will be analyzed including identity questions, narrative forms and authors’ ideologies.

Required texts: Patrick CHAMOISEAU, Une enfance créole I. Antan d’enfance, ISBN-13 : 978-2070733392

Dany LAFERRIERE, L’odeur du café/, ISBN-13: 978-2843047756

Camara LAYE, /L’enfant noir, ISBN-13 : 978-2266023122

Required reading :

Philippe LEJEUNE, Le pacte autobiographique, ISBN-13: 978-2020296960