Fighting Cane and Canon: Abhimanyu Unnuth and the Case of World Literature in Mauritius by Rashi Rohatgi makes a significant contribution to the burgeoning field of Indian Ocean Studies in relation to the field of World Literature. Her exploration of the poetry of Abhimanyu Unnuth brings to the fore the work of this important Mauritian poet, and shows how he is of significance both in terms of the local Mauritian literary scene as well as in connecting with the global. In a country where languages form part of a hierarchy, this consideration of Hindu writing emphasises the ways in which alternative literary networks can be formed outside of those more centralized notions of World Literature. Writing in French and English form the main literary outputs of Mauritius and these linguistically connect into Western literature and their canonicity, which tends to organises the canon though a 'centre' and 'periphery' binary in considering World Literature. The Hindu writing of Unnuth instead sees connections with the Indian Ocean World creating an alternative model of World Literature than the usual postcolonial fare. Rohatgi makes the very valid point, however, that Unnuth is not merely a writer seeking recognition outside of his locale; he is also a poet who brings the world to his Mauritian audience through his inter-textual connections with a wide range of other poets and literary forms. Rohatgi shows in her analysis that Unnuth, by acting between the local and the global, can politically address what he sees as some of the ills of Mauritian society: for example, corruption and poverty within the Indo-Mauritian community. By being open to the world, Unnuth uses his poetry to help that community to reconsider its history, its place in Mauritius and in a wider society.

Rohgati's attention to the methodologies of the study of World Literature are also a welcome and insightful development to the research field. Instead of the usual insistence on broad comparisons in World Literature, she shows through her focus on poetry that close reading too has a place in developing and expanding the World Literary canon. This insight is of major importance for any scholar working in World Literature and takes this book from the particular example into a broader relevance to literary scholarship.- Helen Cousins, Reader in Postcolonial Literature, Newman University.