Cultural Constructions of Madness in Eighteenth-Century Writing: Representing the Insane

ISBN-13: 9781403945952 / Angielski / Twarda / 2004 / 245 str.

Allan Ingram; Michelle Faubert

Opis

This work deals with the (mis)representation of insanity through a substantial range of literary forms and figures from across the eighteenth century and beyond. Chapters cover the representation, distortion, sentimentalization and elevation of insanity, and such associated issues as gender, personal identity, and performance, in some of the best and least known writers of the period. A selection of visual material, including works by Hogarth, Rowlandson, and Gillray, is also discussed. While primarily adopting a literary focus, the work is informed throughout by an alertness to significant issues of medical and psychiatric history.

Recenzje

'This is a splendid book. It explores the representations of sanity and insanity through the eighteenth century with meticulous attention to historical specificities, and with a keen eye for philosophical and conceptual issues that arise whenever we raise the question of how we adjudicate matters related to insanity...Throughout, the work is intellectually extremely distinguisted, provocative, and stimulating.' - Thomas Docherty, Modern Language Review

'By virtue of its collection of historical detail and close readings of individual texts and prints, this work will reward anyone interested in the topic.' - Frank Boyle, The Scriblerian

Spis treści

List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Speaking It Like a Horse: Gulliver's Travels and the Contexts of Insanity Reconstructing the Classical Model: Pope's Homer and its Influence 'Th' unbalanc'd Mind': Poetry, Satire and the Assimilation of Madness 'The Madness of a Multitude': Insanity, People and Prose Acting the Part of a Madman: Insanity and the Stage A Gendered Affliction: Women, Writing, Madness; M.Faubert 'The Image of our Mind': Seeing and Being Seen Madness Itself: The Real Story Bibliography Index

O autorze

ALLAN INGRAM is Professor of English at the University of Northumbria, UK. He has published widely on eighteenth-century topics and has spoken, mainly on insanity, in various European countries and in North America.

MICHELLE FAUBERT holds a doctorate on Romantic Madness from the University of Toronto, Canada. She has published on Byron, on Hopkins and on Hardy.