Author Description

The subject of 'motherhood' is interwoven with themes of survival, power, and identity. It is also at the heart of any consideration of women's writing. Conversations of Motherhood sensitively charts common themes, intersecting experiences, and related topics within the cultural specificities of South African society. The book comparatively explores seminal novels by South African authors, written in English and Afrikaans from the 1970s to 2010, through the prism of motherhood. Drawing on the work of theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, it develops a transcultural approach to the study of literature and literary culture in postcolonial multilingual societies. This method offers striking rewards when comparatively pairing Zoe Wicomb with Pamphilia Hlapa, Sindiwe Magona with Marlene van Niekerk, Ellen Kuzwayo with Antjie Krog, and Elsa Joubert with Wilma Stockenstrom. ** "...an exciting achievement and an important contribution to the study of the literatures and cultures of South Africa as well as to the field of interdisciplinary postcolonial studies. Through the rhythm of Robbe's discursive text a beautiful balance is found: theoretical complexity is combined with the lucidity of close reading and arguments. Her choice of combinations is astute and enlightening. Motherhood has never been read and analysed in this way before." -- Professor Ena Jansen, U. of Amsterdam ** "...a great pleasure to read. This book adopts a stimulating and productive way of addressing the existing literature and will be welcomed by those who wish to read a fresh and informative study of South African women's writing set within the fields of gender and African studies." -- Professor Eva Hunter, U. of the Western Cape [Subject: Literary Criticism, Women's Studies, African Studies]