This study investigates possible differences between fictional portrayals of the British Raj by Anglo-Indian authors who lived in the colony and writers who never saw the country. In an attempt to challenge Said's assumptions outlined in Orientalism, the results of the comparison will be used to discuss how consistent the colonial discourse was.

This book investigates how India was portrayed in British novels and short stories during the heyday of the British Raj. In the tradition of post-colonial studies such as Edward Said's Orientalism, it will be considered in how far fiction by Rudyard Kipling and other writers supported the institution of the Raj by establishing and spreading certain ideas about the Indian sub-continent and the Indian people. In addition, Said's claims concerning the consistency of what he labels Orientalist discourse will be challenged to a certain degree, as British authors who lived in India are more likely to present an image of the country that is at least partly more detailed and nuanced than portrayals of the Indian scene created by writers who never saw the sub-continent.

Autorentext

Sebastian Horstmann studied English and Music at Osnabrück University, Leibniz University Hannover and SUNY Oswego. His primary research interests include post-colonial studies, film music and bilingual education.

Inhalt

Contents: British fiction - India - British Raj - Anglo-Indian fiction - The image of India in fiction produced in Britain - Edward Said - Imperialism - (Post-)Colonialism.