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Moving away from territorially-bound narratives toward a more kinetic conceptualization of identity, this book represents the first analysis of the politics of American identity within the fiction and memoirs of Isabel Allende. Craig offers a radical transformation of societal frameworks through revised notions of place, temporality, and space.

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1. Belonging within Isabel Allende´s "California Dream" 2. The Politics of National Belonging 3. "The Intangible Space" of Belonging: Paradigms of Affective Engagement within Nation 4. Gendered Discourses of Patriarchal Nationalism: "The Intransigent Father" 6. Feminist, "Feminine," and ´Matriarchal´ Nations? 6. Sites of Transformation within the Americas: Historical California and an Inter-American Identity 7. Future Sustainable Landscapes of Belonging: the "Young American" and Eco-Centered Ethical Frameworks 8. Conclusion

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Craig´s book is something entirely new: it engages with the fluidity of national affiliation in a globalized world in which territorial borders are rendered less relevant. Craig deploys theoretical tools with elegance and aplomb; one never has the sensation of encountering theory for theory´s Sake. On the contrary, her discussions of diverse perspectives on nationalism and national identity, gender and patriarchy, and eco-criticism are used to unlock meaning and offer exciting and genuinely original readings of texts as diverse as My Invented Country , The Sum of Our Days , The Infinite Plan , Paula , Aphrodite , Daughter of Fortune , Portrait in Sepia , and Zorro .´ Susan Castillo, Harriet Beecher Stowe Professor of American Studies, King´s College London, UK

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Bonnie Craig is Graduate Instructor in the Department of English at King s College London, UK.

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