Postcolonial nostalgias writing representation and memory routledge research in postcolonial literatures 31 dennis walder this book offers an original and informed critique of a widespread yet often misunderstood condition nostalgia a pervasive human emotion connecting people across national historical and personal boundaries. Through a series of comparative reflections upon the representation in literary and related cultural forms of memory he shows how admitting the past into the present through nostalgia enables former colonial or diasporic subjects to gain a deeper understanding of the networks of power within which they are caught in the modern world and beyond which it may yet be possible to move. A wide ranging critique of the representation of memory and especially nostalgia a condition commonly dismissed yet which links people across personal national and historical boundaries analysing the narratives of those entangled in the aftermath of empire the author traces the hidden connections within their yearnings for a common identity and a homeland and their struggles to recover . Writing representation and postcolonial nostalgia this work reflects upon a facet of memory that has a special resonance for those of us entangled by the long histories of colonialism and . Library of congress cataloging in publication data walder dennis postcolonial nostalgias writing representation and memory by dennis walder p cm routledge research in postcolonial literatures 31 includes bibliographical references and index 1 commonwealth fiction english history and criticism 2