The range of literature written in English but produced outside Britain and America has expanded considerably in recent years. This book provides a comparative and up-to-date survey of colonial, new national and post-colonial literatures, and related criticism. At the same time, the essays address the problem of establishing such politicized categories of literature; they recognize that, in a time of massive migration, rapid international communication, and increased demands by minorities, national cultures and national identities are less stable than ever before. Intended as an introduction for those new to the subject, the collection contributes to the ongoing discussion about the new literatures, and should also interest the specialist.