William Wordsworth in Context

by Andrew Bennett (Editor)

Overview

William Wordsworth's poetry responded to the enormous literary, political, cultural, technological and social changes that the poet lived through during his lifetime (1770‒1850), and to his own transformation from young radical inspired by the French Revolution to Poet Laureate and supporter of the establishment. The poet of the 'egotistical sublime' who wrote the pioneering autobiographical masterpiece, The Prelude, and whose work is remarkable for its investigation of personal impressions, memories and experiences, is also the poet who is critically engaged with the cultural and political developments of his era. William Wordsworth in Context presents thirty-five concise chapters on contexts crucial for an understanding and appreciation of this leading Romantic poet. It focuses on his life, circle, and composition; on his reception and influence; on the significance of late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century literary contexts; and on the historical, political, scientific and philosophical issues that helped to shape Wordsworth's poetry and prose.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781316234150
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/12/2015
Series:	Literature in Context
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Andrew Bennett is Professor of English and Director of the Centre for Romantic and Victorian Studies at the University of Bristol. His publications include Romantic Poets and the Culture of Posterity (Cambridge, 1999), Wordsworth Writing (Cambridge, 2007), Ignorance: Literature and Agnoiology (2009) and, with Nicholas Royle, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory, 4th edition (2009) and This Thing Called Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing (2015).

Table of Contents

Preface; Chronology; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Biography Stephen Gill; 2. The Wordsworth circle Susan M. Levin; 3. Dorothy Wordsworth Judith W. Page; 4. Composition and revision Sally Bushell; 5. Prose Tim Milnes; Part II. Reception and Influence: 6. The critical reception, 1793–1806 David Higgins; 7. The critical reception, 1807–18 Peter Simonsen; 8. The critical reception, 1819–50 Richard Cronin; 9. English poetry, 1900–30 Michael O'Neill; 10. Wordsworth now Maureen N. McLane; Part III. Literary Traditions: 11. Eighteenth-century poetry Kevis Goodman; 12. The ballad tradition Daniel Cook; 13. The pastoral-georgic tradition David Fairer; 14. The popular tradition Ann Wierda Rowland; 15. Elegy Paul H. Fry; 16. The sonnet Daniel Robinson; 17. Autobiography Josh Wilner; 18. Epitaphs and inscriptions Samantha Matthews; 19. Sensibility, sympathy and sentiment James Chandler; Part IV. Cultural and Historical Contexts: 20. Revolution John Bugg; 21. Poverty and crime Toby Benis; 22. Europe Michael Ferber; 23. War Simon Bainbridge; 24. Nature and the environment Scott Hess; 25. London Christopher Stokes; 26. Family and friendship Anne D. Wallace; 27. Education Frances Ferguson; 28. Animals Kurt Fosso; 29. Philosophy Stuart Allen; 30. Religion Jonathan Roberts; 31. The senses Noel Jackson; 32. Language Alexander Regier; 33. The sublime Philip Shaw; 34. Walking and travel Robin Jarvis; 35. Painting, spectacle and the visual Sophie Thomas; Further reading.