Date of Award
1-1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.F.A. in Creative Writing
First Advisor
Michael X. Wang
Second Advisor
Tom Franklin
Third Advisor
Leigh Anne Duck
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This novel can be described as “Peter Pan meets colonialism and imperialism”. A slight reimagining of the fairytale Peter Pan, it is an epic that spans four hundred years, from Africa to England and the imagined mystical island of Foreverland, which exists in suspended in time. While there are several threads woven throughout the story, the main storyline concerns two brothers who in 1595 are lured alongside other children onto a ship bound for England. Halfway through the journey, the children take control of the ship and soon find themselves on Foreverland where they are arrested in time. The brothers end up being separated, with the younger washing ashore in 1885 England with no memories. Thus begins their quest for each other against a backdrop of imperial Britain. In this story the British empire dominates the world not because of their superior military and naval forces but because of their endless quest for, and subsequent acquisition of hidden knowledge around the world. It’s alternate history, but the British are still almighty. So this is me trying to investigate the question: is Empire inevitable? It’s been a wonderful opportunity to learn and stretch my authorial voice. In previous projects I have stuck closely to third person narrative voice, but for this project, I am borrowing heavily on the Victorian novel, both in terms of sensibility and on a mechanical, craft level.
Recommended Citation
Ogundiran, Oluwatobi Ajibola, "The Book of Frost: Being a Narrative of Love, Conquest and Survival in the Face of Empire" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3345.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3345