Magic(al) Realism

Maggie Ann Bowers teaches American and Canadian literature at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. She has published numerous articles on contemporary American and Canadian authors, and is the co-editor of Convergences and Interferences (2002).

• Introduction  1. Origins of Magic(al) Realism  2. Delimiting the Terms  3. Locations of the Magic(al) Realism  4. Transgressive Variants of Magical Realism  5. Cross-cultural variants of Magical realism  6. Magic(al) Realism and Cultural Productions  7. The Future of Magic(al) Realism  Glossary  Bibliography  Index

'[Bower's] overall purpose is "to guide the non-expert through the minefield of terms, to identify the origins of the terms and concepts in art, literature and film and to introduce readers to a range of innovative and engaging fictions". All of this she achieves: the text is easily understood without being simplistic, and the glossary, though short, is clear and very helpful.' British Bulletin of Publications'What renders Bower's Magic(al) Realism such a valuable and comprehensive introduction is that in addition to literature, she also considers artefacts from other fields of cultural production ... Bower's analysis of magical realism also proves exceptional in that she repeatedly draws attention to the importance of the cultural location of the audience in receiving a work as magic realist.' - Wasafiri