Children of the French Empire: Miscegenation and Colonial Society in French West Africa 1895-1960 - Rilegato

White, Owen

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0198208197 ISBN 13: 9780198208198

Casa editrice: Clarendon Press, 1999

Riassunto

This book vividly recreates the lives of the children born of relationships between French men and African women from the time France colonized much of West Africa towards the end of the nineteenth century, until independence in 1960.

Set within the context of the history of miscegenation in colonial French West Africa, the study focuses upon the lives and identities of the resulting mixed-race or métis population, and their struggle to overcome the handicaps they faced in a racially divided society. Owen White has drawn a valuable evaluation of the impact and importance of French racial theories, and offers a critical discussion of colonial policies in such areas as citizenship and education, providing original insights into problems of identity in colonial society.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

Revealing and well-executed study of mixed-race offspring in French West Africa ... The strength of this book lies in its subtle interpretations and rich empirical detail ... his book highlights the tremendous benefits to be gained from exploring metropolitan and colonial developments in a single frame. To his immense credit, White makes this seem effortless. (African Affairs)

Breaks new ground ... This excellent book will be of interest to both historians of France and colonial historians. It offers a fascinating insight into the human relations of colonialism and, in so doing, obliges us to abandon the easy distinctions and dichotomies between colonizer and colonized which have been a frequent feature of writing about colonialism. (French History)

There are few good anglophone studies of the French colonial experience. White's monograph is therefore a valuable source of insight into the distinctive nature of French interactions with indigenous subject peoples. It is all the more welcome because the author writes with sensitivity and verve about matters which might in other hands have been reduced to sub-Foucaldian platitudes. (Susan Bayly, Times Literary Supplement)

This is a first-rate contribution to the study of colonialism. (Susan Bayly, Times Literary Supplement)

Children of the French Empire provides a very useful prism through which to view the French imperial system and its culture. This book is a "must" for anyone interested in understanding both. (Journal of African History, Vol.42)

An important contribution to current debates over competing philosophies of French colonial governance and the all-to-frequent chasm between high-minded theory and less impressive practice. (English Historical Review)

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Clarendon Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0198208197
• ISBN 13: 9780198208198
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 210