Edward Saïd is one of the most important cultural theorists and public intellectuals of the twentieth century, and his groundbreaking analysis of Orientalism (1978) changed the way the West thought about the world. There have been few public intellectuals in recent times whose political, theoretical and public life have been so fused. His influence can be discerned today in virtually all the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences and well beyond. In particular, the term “Orientalism” is now linked inextricably to his name. Nearly a quarter of a century after its publication in 1978,

Orientalism

remains an important and controversial book. However his wide ranging work has had a profound impact in contemporary post-colonial studies, and his journalism an incomparable role…

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Citation: Ashcroft, William David. "Edward Said". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 October 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5170, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5170 Edward Said 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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