The prime objective of this book is to underpin the Maghrebi encounter with the Occident, which evolved from fascination (Occidentophilia), to Ambivalence, to rejection of the Occident (Occidentophobia) through a process of decolonization. It sheds light on many neglected areas in the study of Maghrebi literature and culture by rehabilitating and reintegrating the pre-1945 novels, hitherto shunned as politically decadent, into the history and the study of Maghrebi literature. It deconstructs this endangered literary corpus with depth, and situates it with other works produced concomitantly in ... More

The prime objective of this book is to underpin the Maghrebi encounter with the Occident, which evolved from fascination (Occidentophilia), to Ambivalence, to rejection of the Occident (Occidentophobia) through a process of decolonization. It sheds light on many neglected areas in the study of Maghrebi literature and culture by rehabilitating and reintegrating the pre-1945 novels, hitherto shunned as politically decadent, into the history and the study of Maghrebi literature. It deconstructs this endangered literary corpus with depth, and situates it with other works produced concomitantly in the form of manifestos and letters addressed to the Occident. These works represent the voices of the pre-1945 elite who expressed their fascination of occidental culture with a plea to the Occident to extend its civilization to all factions of the colonized society. The book traces literary depictions of Algerian converts to Christianity; a community obliterated by mainstream discourse of nationalism. The book unearths their voices and gives explanation to their anguishes, and dilemmas as exemplified in the work of the Amrouche family of authors. It also delves into Imperial Feminism and the writings of French feminists on their mission to save native Maghrebi women. To complete the circle the book examines the birth of Algerian feminism and its depiction through literature, of the native women’s encounter with the Occident as advocated in the work of Djamila Débêche. The book concludes by analysing the reasons behind the failure of the East –West encounter as the end of a chimera.