(Blackwell History of Literature) 1st Edition
by Burwick (Author)
Historical Narrative Offers Introduction to Romanticism by Placing Key Figures in Overall Social Context
Going beyond the general literary survey, A History of Romantic Literature
examines the literatures of sensibility and intensity as well as the
aesthetic dimensions of horror and terror, sublimity and ecstasy, by
providing a richly integrated account of shared themes, interests,
innovations, rivalries and disputes among the writers of the late
eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Drawing from the
assemblage theory, Prof. Burwick maintains that the literature of the
period is inseparable from prevailing economic conditions and ongoing
political and religious turmoil, as well as developments in physics,
astronomy, music and art. Thus, rather than deal with authors as if they
worked in isolation from society, he identifies and describes their
interactions with their communities and with one another, as well as
their responses to current events. By connecting seemingly scattered and
random events such as the bank crisis of 1825, he weaves the
coincidental into a coherent narrative of the networking that informed
the rise and progress of Romanticism. Notable features of the book
include:
- A strong narrative structure divided into four
major chronological periods: Revolution, 1789-1798; Napoleonic Wars,
1799-1815; Riots, 1815-1820; Reform, 1821-1832
- Thorough
coverage of major and minor figures and institutions of the Romantic
movement (including Mary Wollstonecraft, Elizabeth Montague and the
Bluestockings, Lord Byron, John Keats, Letitia Elizabeth Landon etc.)
- Emphasis
on the influence of social networks among authors, such as informal
dinners and teas, clubs, salons and more formal institutions
With its extensive coverage and insightful analysis set within a lively historical narrative, History of Romantic Literature
is highly recommended for courses on British Romanticism at both
undergraduate and post-graduate levels. It will also prove a highly
useful reference for advanced scholars pursuing their own research.