French Literature Reviews - 2026

V. Bragard & S. Ravi (eds.), Ecritures mauriciennes au féminin : penser l'altérité
Francophone and Oral Literatures

Ecritures mauriciennes au féminin: penser l'altérité

Edited by Véronique Bragard and Srilata Ravi

Series: Literary Criticisms

L'Harmattan, 2010

ISBN: 978-2-296-54211-2 • €29.50 • 318 pages

Publisher's overview

Mauritian women's writing has experienced a remarkable surge in recent years. The collection of essays presented in this volume pays tribute to this generation of Mauritian female writers who are mapping out new cartographies of otherness. Taking socio-economic, historical, and psychological factors into account, these contributions demonstrate how contemporary Mauritian women's literature has fundamentally disrupted the political framing of Mauritian reality by giving voice to female characters, minorities, and those associated with various forms of deviance who speak as the "others." This volume embraces a polyphony of voices whose diverse approaches resonate with the work of these Mauritian authors.

This collection of essays contributes to the broader critical engagement with Francophone literature from the Indian Ocean, a field that increasingly examines how postcolonial island societies articulate identity and difference. The volume focuses on the ways contemporary authors navigate complex cultural landscapes shaped by historical and social dynamics. By bringing together diverse critical perspectives, the book engages with ongoing scholarly conversations surrounding gender, representation, and marginality in contemporary island writing. Readers interested in contemporary Francophone women's writing and Indian Ocean studies may find this volume relevant to their research.

The essays gathered in the volume examine how Mauritian women writers address socio-economic, historical, and psychological dimensions of experience. The contributions highlight the ways literary texts give voice to female characters and minority figures who operate as figures of otherness. Through varied critical approaches, the volume explores how these authors disrupt conventional political framings of Mauritian reality. The collection reflects the rich polyphony of contemporary literary criticism addressing the evolving landscape of women's writing in Mauritius and its broader cultural resonance.