Andrea Levy: Contemporary Critical Perspectives - Softcover

A rich and judiciously edited collection offering (it's hard to believe) the first book-length assessment of this major contemporary novelist. The chapters are beautifully balanced, exposing readers to a wide range of critical perspectives, from meticulous close readings of the novels to questions of literary form, reception, and adaptation. The collection concludes with a revealing, previously unpublished interview with Andrea Levy. * James Procter, Reader in Modern English & Postcolonial Literature, Newcastle University, UK *

Andrea Levy has emerged as one of the most significant and popular voices in contemporary black British writing both in the UK and abroad. Drawing on a familial history of emigration, her critically-acclaimed novels - including the multiple award-winning Small Island - attempt to bring a variety of voices to the representation of black experience in post-war Britain.

This book is the first of its kind to be devoted to Levy's work. Combining historical, theoretical and textual perspectives, the volume hosts a wide range of current critical approaches to Levy's fiction. With chapters written by leading established and emerging scholars, the book explores issues of literary form, diasporic literature and cultural value, the BBC TV adaptation of Small Island, while also shedding fresh light on Levy's critically neglected early works. The book also includes a new interview with Levy herself, a timeline of her life, chapter summaries, as well as guides to further reading and online resources, making this an essential companion to the writings of one of the most exciting voices in contemporary fiction.