Leave To Remain

: a novel. The third space and beyond in British Asian Literature and Agnieszka Dale's Fox Season and other short stories

Abstract

In the context of social media, queer identity, religious and cultural practices, and post-Brexit politics, this thesis examines the evolving nature of cultural hybridity among Generation Z British Asians and Eastern Europeans by articulating ‘organic’ hybridity shaped by lived experiences. The methodological approach of this project is multifaceted, incorporating interviews, filmmaking, and the novel form itself as tools for exploring cultural hybridity. This thesis analyses interviews with authors to provide insights into the experiences of belonging, enriching both theoretical analysis and character development in Leave to Remain.
The research is divided into two parts: a critical commentary and an original novel. The critical commentary is an analysis of British Asian literature and Agnieszka Dale’s Fox Season: And Other Short Stories through the lens of theories (Bhabha 1994; Benet-Martinez 2012; Benet-Martinez & Haritatos, 2005; Gilroy, 1993; Hall 2013; Moslund 2010; Werbner 1997). By situating the lives of Eastern Europeans and British Asians within the context of post-Brexit politics, this research highlights how the growing interrelation of these perspectives provides fresh insights into their shared yet distinct identities as they reconcile cultural boundaries with evolving identities in Britain.
The thesis’s second part, titled Leave to Remain, is an original novel. The novel follows the lives of Ayesha, a woman of Pakistani heritage born in London; Helena, a Polish woman who relocated to Britain; and Faisal, Ayesha’s recently arrived cousin from Pakistan. The novel brings theories of cultural hybridity and post-coloniality into conversation with identity post-Brexit, informed by works such as Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) and The Black Album (1995). Other influences include Gautam Malkani’s Londonstani (2006), Satnam Sanghera’s Marriage Material (2013), Meera Syal’s Just a T-Shirt (2017), Guy Gunaratne’s In Our Mad and Furious City (2018), and Agnieszka Dale’s Fox Season: A Happy Nation (2017).
The thesis examines how Generation Z navigates hybrid identities and explores their development through gradual adaptation within liminal spaces. The thesis situates this negotiation in an era characterised by digital connectivity, socio-political upheaval, and shifting cultural landscapes, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of belonging for contemporary youth. 

Thesis embargoed. Available: 03/03/28

Date of Award	Feb 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton
Supervisor	Jessica Moriarty (Supervisor) & Vedrana Velickovic (Supervisor)