Historicity of Text and Textuality of History: A New Historicist Analysis of Sorayya Khan’s City of Spies

Abstract

Literary works are informed by the historical context. This is vividly traceable in the Pakistani fiction writers who re-enact history in more truthful way. The present study intends to explore the historicity of text and textuality of history in Sorayya Khan’s City of Spies. It highlights the reconstruction of traditional history through Khan's art of writing back of the history of Military coup in the mould of new historical scenario. The text traces the events of 1970s coup through a young protagonist’s perspective. The research objectives are: to explore the historicity of text and textuality of history and to trace out the new historicist aspects of City of Spies. While using the qualitative research paradigm, the researcher applies theoretical lens of Louis Montrose derived from Professing the Renaissance: The Poetics and Politics of Culture, to the textual analysis of Khan’s text. The research findings endorse that the text is history-oriented and proffers an alternative vision of history. The study is significant for future research to interpret literary text new historically.