The book addresses influences and affinities in the context of the history of ideas, literary theory and criticism. It brings together American Transcendentalism, Negritude, African religions and philosophy.

The book, through textual analyses, brings concepts of Senghorian Negritude and Emersonian ideas into a cross-cultural dialogue, and thus opens up a completely new perspective in research on the history of ideas. It synthesizes the diverse cultural, literary, philosophical and religious trends which have impacted on the complex and elusive fields of Transcendentalism and Negritude. Focusing on the current debate on influences and affinities in literary and cultural studies, the book shows that African religions and philosophy have influenced the formation of American Transcendentalism.

Autorentext

Manyaka Toko Djockoua teaches American literature at the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences of the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. Her research interests include American literature, literary theory and criticism, comparative literature, cultural studies, and postcolonial studies.

Inhalt

Origins of American Transcendentalism - Sources of Negritude - Emerson's and Senghor's Family and Educational Influences - African Ontology in Emerson's and Senghor's Essays - Lectures and Poems - Transcendentalism - Negritude and Literature - Cross-cultural Affinities - Cultural and Literary Ethics