'Colonialism/Postcolonialismis both a crystal-clear and authoritative introduction to the field and a cogently-argued defence of the field's radical potential. It's exactly the sort of book teachers want their students to read.' '¬ ;Peter Hulme, Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex, UK 'Loomba is a keen and canny critic of ever-shifting geopolitical realities, and Colonialism/Postcolonialismremains a primer for the academic and common reader alike.' '¬ ;Antoinette Burton, Department of History, University of Illinois, USA 'It is rare to come across a book that can engage both student and specialist. Loomba simultaneously maps a field and contributes provocatively to key debates within it. Situated comparatively across disciplines and cultural contexts, this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in postcolonial studies.' '¬ ;Priyamvada Gopal, Faculty of English, Cambridge University, USA 'Colonialism/Postcolonialismmoves adroitly between the general and the particular, the conceptual and the contextual, the local and the global, and between texts and material processes. Distrustful of established and self-perpetuating assumptions, foci and canonical texts which threaten to fossilize postcolonial studies as a discipline, Loomba's magisterial study raises many crucial issues pertaining to social structure and identity; engaging with different modes of theory and social explanation in the process.

There is no doubt that this book remains the best general introduction to the field.' '¬ ;Kelwyn Sole Professor, English Department, University of Cape Town 'Lucid and incisive this is a wonderful introduction to the contentious yet vibrant field of post-colonial studies. With consummate ease Loomba maps the field, unravels the many strands of the debate and provides a considered critique. She shows how post colonial theory forces us to reconsider some of our founding ideas, reorient our frames of enquiry, and rethink the very notion of colonialism. A must-read for everyone.' '¬ ;Neeladri Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.