The Godwinian novel

Description:

The Godwinian Novel is a pioneering analysis of the school of fiction inaugurated by William Godwin, and developed in the works of his principal followers, Charles Brockden Brown and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. In the first study of these authors as a historically specific group, Pamela Clemit argues for a greater unity between Godwin's fictional techniques and his radical political philosophy than has been perceived. Her analysis of the works of Brown and Mary Shelley, moreover, reveals how these writers modified, reshaped, and redefined Godwin's distinctive themes and techniques in response to shifting ideological pressures in the post-revolutionary period. Examining prose fiction in a period traditionally seen as dominated by poetry, Clemit stresses the necessity for a revised view of British Romanticism. Uncovering the links between Godwin's fictional analysis of subjective experience and his progressive political philosophy, The Godwinian Novel paves the way for a reappraisal of the apparently quietistic and introspective concerns of other writers of the period.

subjects: American fiction,  Criticism and interpretation,  English Political fiction,  English influences,  History and criticism,  Horror tales,  Influence,  Politics and literature,  Radicalism in literature,  Rationalism in literature,  Romanticism,  Political fiction, history and criticism,  Brown, charles brockden, 1771-1810,  Shelley, mary wollstonecraft, 1797-1851,  Godwin, william, 1756-1836,  Criticism and interpretationgodwin, william , 1756-1836,  Criticism and interpretationshelley, mary wollstonecraft , 1797-1851,  Criticism and interpretationbrown, charles brockden , 1771-1810,  Influencegodwin, william , 1756-1836,  Political fiction, english--history and criticism,  American fiction--english influences,  Politics and literature--english-speaking countries,  Horror tales--history and criticism,  Pr4724 .c57 1993,  823/.609

People: Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810),  Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851),  William Godwin (1756-1836)

Places: English-speaking countries