Naples and the Anglophone - New Publication by Professor Tehezeeb Moitra

Inspired by the unique city of Naples and its complex cultural history, Professor Tehezeeb Moitra explores the relationship between the Italian city and the English-speaking world in her new book, Naples and the anglophone: Palimpsestic Webs and Archival Encounters. 

She uses the term “anglophone,” intentionally in lowercase, “to  highlight the fragmentation of the concept.” 

In her book, Moitra focuses on three creative examples that link Naples and the anglophone world: Elena Ferrante's novels, Johnnie Shand Kydd's photographs, and William Kentridge's mosaic at the Toledo metro station. She describes these  as “critical nodes of contact between the city and the anglophone.” 

Moitra notes that publishing an academic book is similar to that of a novel, in the sense that it requires close collaboration with the publishing house and editor to polish the book to perfection. After submitting a book proposal form, Moitra and her editor went through “an intense period of writing, rewriting, and editing,” which caused a rollercoaster of emotions. Although the process can be “fairly long and intense,” Moitra described it as “entirely worthwhile.” 

Published by Palgrave Macmillan as part of its Italian and American Studies series, the book applies to Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Studies, inviting readers to view Naples as a living archive.