Fiction and the Incompleteness of History: Toni Morrison, V. S. Naipaul, and Ben Okri

161 Pages·2007·0.563 MB·English

by  Zhu Ying

Fiction and the
Incompleteness of History

Zhu Ying
Fiction and the
Incompleteness
of History
Toni Morrison, V. S. Naipaul,
and Ben Okri
PETER LANG
Oxford • Bern • Berlin • Bruxelles • Frankfurt am Main • New York • Wien
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ISBN 3­03910­746­1
E­ISBN 978­3­0353­0221­9
US­ISBN 0­8204­8006­1
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Printed in Germany
To Timothy Weiss and the
memories of Hong Kong

Contents
Acknowledgements 9
Chapter One
Introduction: imagining and repatterning the
incompleteness of history 11
Chapter Two
A shadowless participation: Toni Morrison’s Beloved
and discredited history 43
Chapter Three
A little chasm filled: the transformation of history in
V.S. Naipaul’s The Enigma of Arrival and
A Way in the World 75
Chapter Four
An undiscovered continent: Ben Okri’s The Famished Road
and the enlargement of historical reality 107
Chapter Five
Conclusion 141
Bibliography 151
Index 159

Acknowledgements
This book is based on a dissertation submitted to The Chinese
University of Hong Kong for my doctoral degree in English Literary
Studies in 2005, and therefore, I owe this book to my dissertation
committee professors. First of all, I am indebted to Timothy Weiss, for
providing with continued attention, strong support and significant
guidance during my study in Hong Kong. Without his vision,
knowledge, and encouragement, this project, which was conceived in
early 2003, would not have been possible. It has also benefited
immeasurably by the careful readings, stimulating questions, and
insightful suggestions of David Parker, Lisa Lai-ming Wong, and
Barry Asker, to whom I am very grateful.
I am also very grateful to Bill Mullen, who inspired me to
develop a keen interest in African-American history and literature, and
especially in Toni Morrison scholarship. Adam Schwartz deserves
special appreciation for his generosity and help that made my short
research in the library at Wellesley College both rewarding and
memorable. I wish to express my gratitude to Paul Levine, a reliable
mentor and warm friend, for constantly advising me on academic
issues, to Ren Xiaojin for believing me from the very beginning, and
to George Braine for always wishing me well.
I would like to thank the English Department and School of
Foreign Languages at Shanghai East China Normal University for
offering me a reasonable grant, and especially Dean Zhang Chunbai
for his understanding and thoughtfulness. I would also like to thank
Alexis Kirschbaum at Peter Lang Publishers in England, for her
enthusiasm and professionalism. Helena Sedgwick has my sincere
thanks for her technical assistance that has brought about a smooth
publication of this book.
My parents have been extremely caring and patient during the
years I pursued my intellectual ideals. They provided a firm, much-
needed anchor of love and warmth, without which I would not have
persevered.