Homeless Entertainment

Had Bouazza is a highly inuential and celebrated author in the Netherlands today. In the context of contemporary Dutch literature, Bouazza's Moroccan background still marks a divergence from the born-and-bred Dutch norm. Authors with a bi- or multicultural background are still often cast in the role of 'exotic outsider'. Bouazza both challenges and uses this position to the full. His writing demonstrates that the perceived us-them or self-other positions are questionable ideological constructs. He undermines the concept of a unied culture and the wholeness of the self. He explores and exploits stereotypical beliefs held on both sides of the EastWest divide. The result is a magical realist setting that both puzzles and enchants. This book offers a reading of Bouazza's literary prose that responds to the interpretative opportunities offered by an author who skilfully and creatively explores his peculiar freedom in his Homeless Entertainment.

Autorentext

The Author: Henriëtte Louwerse grew up in the Netherlands where she studied English Literature at the University of Groningen. She is a lecturer in Dutch in the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.

Klappentext

Häd Bouazza is a highly in uential and celebrated author in the Netherlands today. In the context of contemporary Dutch literature, Bouazza's Moroccan background still marks a divergence from the born-and-bred Dutch norm. Authors with a bi- or multicultural background are still often cast in the role of 'exotic outsider'. Bouazza both challenges and uses this position to the full. His writing demonstrates that the perceived us-them or self-other positions are questionable ideological constructs. He undermines the concept of a uni ed culture and the wholeness of the self. He explores and exploits stereotypical beliefs held on both sides of the East-West divide. The result is a magical realist setting that both puzzles and enchants. This book offers a reading of Bouazza's literary prose that responds to the interpretative opportunities offered by an author who skilfully and creatively explores his peculiar freedom in his Homeless Entertainment.

Inhalt
Contents: Response to the emergence and rise of multicultural authors in the Netherlands Analyses of the specific position of 'outsider' authors focussing on concepts of (cultural) identity, home and homelessness Analyses of Bouazza's main literary works.