Includes index.

This book examines a range of fiction and criticism as it pertains to colonialism, the North/South engagement and contemporary Third World politics.The Fiction of Imperialism attempts to promote dialogue between international relations and postcolonialism. It addresses the value of fiction to an understanding of the imperial relationship between the West and Asia and Africa. A wide range of fiction and criticism is examined as it pertains to colonialism, in North/South engagement and contemporary Third World politics.The book begins by contrasting the treatment of cross-cultural relations in political studies and literary texts. It then examines the personal as a metaphor for the political in fiction depicting the imperial connection between Britain and India. This is paired with an analysis of African literary texts which takes as its theme the relationship between culture and politics. The concluding chapters approach literature from the outside, considering its apparent silence on economics and realpolitik, and assessing the utility of postcolonial reconceptualization.-- Renewal of interest in imperialism and literary texts about imperialism-- Examines a range of fiction and criticism as it pertains to colonialism, the North/South engagement and contemporary Third World politics.-- First volume in a new series which deals with the differences between culture and politics as well as in ways of seeing and the sources that can be drawn on.