No abstract

ABSTRACT. Various literary critics have dwelt on the nature, tenets and trends of commitment in Nigerian literature. However, there is paucity of studies on the imaginative narration of the impediments facing the actualization of theRESUMEN. Diversos críticos literarios se han detenido a analizar la naturaleza, los principios y modos de compromiso en la literatura de Nigeria. Sin embargo, hay una carencia de estudios sobre la narración imaginativa de los impedimentos a los que se enfrenta la actualización de la esfera pública en la Nigeria poscolonial. Este ensayo examina las estrategias y técnicas en la representación de la promesa fallida de la esfera pública en la ficción poscolonial nigeriana, utilizando los ejemplos que proporcionan Chinua Achebe en Anthills of the Savannah, Ben Okri en The Famished Road y Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie en Purple Hibiscus. La metodología implica una lectura detallada de los textos seleccionados, usando el término "esfera pública" de Jurgen Habermas como marco conceptual. En las novelas seleccionadas, Nigeria se representa como un país donde los gobernantes desestiman la existencia de la "esfera pública", que se supone que proporciona un espacio liminal entre los ámbitos privados de la sociedad civil y la familia, así como en la esfera de la autoridad pública. Esto se revela en el rechazo de los personajes que tipifican a los gobernantes a ignorar un status todos juntos.

In this paper, an attempt is made to examine the ways in which an African city (Lagos) is written about in the works of African writers in Europe. The paper relies on the templates provided by selected short stories of the London-based Nigerian writer (Ben Okri) and Chika Unigwe, the Nigerian writer who lives with her Flemish husband in Turnhout, Belgium. In the main, the paper critically elucidates how the two migrant writers appropriate the city of Lagos in their respective texts. The analysis of the selected stories has revealed that Lagos has been used as a topos, a theme, a trope, a metaphor and a symbol by the writers. The city has been used in the stories as a pervading metaphor for insecurity, neglect, anonymity and perversion of the ideal. Thus, in the texts, the reader witnesses a tacit critique of urban regulatory mechanisms and all forms of neocolonial decadence in modern African states. It is also revealed that the stories appeal to readers due to the writers' adroit blend of matter and manner, that is, there is a skilful interface between literary aesthetics and social realities.

The Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses is published yearly by the Department of English at the University of Alicante in volumes of approximately 250 pages. The journal aims to provide a forum for debate and an outlet for research involving all aspects of English Studies. NATURE AND FORMAT OF THE ARTICLES:The Revista would welcome ar ticles of the following kinds: (1) Articles on linguistics and ELT, literature, literary theory and criticism, history and other aspects of the culture of the English-speaking nations. Articles should not exceed nine thous and words in length.(2) Bibliogra phies of studies on very specifi c topics, providing a brief in troduction and a list of basic publications. A concise index of contents may optionally be included. (3) Reviews and review ar ticles on recently published books in the fi eld of English Stu dies. (4) Poetry translations (English-Spanish and Spanish-Eng lish). All articles submitted should follow the guidelines which can be obtained from the following Internet address:http://www.ua.es/dfi ng/publicaciones/raei/general/instrucciones.htm