Full Description
This volume studies the literary voices of the Italian diaspora in Britain, including 21 authors and 34 pieces of prose, verse, and drama. This book shows how authors both recount the history of the migrant community in the period 1880-1980 while creatively experimenting with hybrid forms of expression and blending words with visuals. Literary Voices of the Italian Diaspora in Britain discusses topical issues like migration and social integration, cultures and foods in transition, as well as plurilingualism. The book pays special attention to discussions of the horrors of the Second World War - especially on the tragedy of the Arandora Star (2nd July 1940) - to show this literary community's political commitments. More importantly, it will begin to fill the void left by a critical tradition which has only appreciated the northern American and Australian branches of Italian writing.
Contents
1. Introduction. A Migrant Literature in the Making—In Search of a Name and a Canon.- 2. History and Histories: Transnational Lives Through Time.- 3. Departures, Arrivals and Settlements: Pictures from Rural Italy and Urban Britain.- 4. From Street Musicians to Educators and Actors: The Long Road to Social Integration.- 5. Italian Cultures, Traditions and Foods in Transition.- 6. Languages in Contact: Italian, English, German and French.- 7. Conclusion.
