“This book is impressive both in its approach to postcolonial critical theory and in its methodology. Harrison deals with issues and texts that have been at the center of critical debates in postcolonial theory, but he approaches the familiar materials with innovativeness and brings new insights to his subject.” Simon Gikandi, University of Michigan "This superb study is true to its title. Harrison's sophisticated reading practice avoids the twin errors of reducing fiction to its conditions of production or detaching texts from their historical ground. In reconsidering the canonical texts of postcolonial studies and examining the fictions of North American writers, Harrison effects a significant advance in understanding both the worldliness and 'literariness' of these diverse writings. His nuanced engagement with modes of reception, and his considered critique of the norms of interpretation, constitute a significant intervention in the field." Benita Parry, University of Warwick