The Creolization Reader: Studies in Mixed Identities and Cultures

Cohen (developmental studies, Oxford University) and Toninato (sociology and Italian studies, University of Warwick) present a compilation of essays from several sources on the subject of creolization. The authors have differing views as to the meaning of the term. Some feel that it should refer mainly to Caribbean cultures and be tied to the colonial experience. Others see it as a blending of races and/or cultures in any location. The first articles are given to defining the terminology but it obviously has varied over time and is still not fixed. The many faces of the Creole are explored, from Louisiana Creole cooking to the merging of white and ＂coloured＂ in South Africa. Cultural, religious and political aspects are all examined with each author giving different shading to the concept. Other terms are used either in apposition or as synonyms: hybrid, mixed-race, syncretic or transnational, for example. The editors provide a summary introduction to each section and the collection as a whole is an excellent introduction to the background of Creolization and the major debates in the field. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)