Bridges, Borders, and Breaks

History, Narrative, and Nation in Twenty-First-Century Chicana/o Literary Criticism

These first-rate essays represent the maturation of Latina/o literary studies, whose sophistication has grown by leaps and bounds with the crucial aid of this volume's subject: the brilliant work of Ramon Saldivar. Well organized and unique, this volume is sure to become essential reading in the field.
John Morán González, University of Texas at Austin

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This volume reassesses the field of Chicana/o literary studies in light of the rise of Latina/o studies, the recovery of a large body of early literature by Mexican Americans, and the “transnational turn” in American studies. The chapters reveal how “Chicano” defines a literary critical sensibility as well as a political one and show how this view can yield new insights about the status of Mexican Americans, the legacies of colonialism, and the ongoing prospects for social justice. Chicana/o literary representations emerge as significant examples of the local that interrogate globalization’s attempts to erase difference. They also highlight how Chicana/o literary studies’ interests in racial justice and the minority experience have produced important intersections with new disciplines while also retaining a distinctive character. The recalibration of Chicana/o literary studies in light of these shifts raises important methodological and disciplinary questions, which these chapters address as they introduce the new tools required for the study of Chicana/o literature at this critical juncture.

about the editors

William Orchard

William Orchard is assistant professor of English at Queens College, City University of New York.

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William Orchard
Yolanda Padilla

Yolanda Padilla is assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, Bothell.

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Yolanda Padilla