Preaching pity : Dickens, Gaskell, and sentimentalism in Victorian culture / Mary Lenard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lenard, Mary, 1967-

Series:

Studies in nineteenth-century British literature ; vol. 11.

Studies in nineteenth-century British literature ; vol. 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, 1810-1865--Political and social views.

Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn.

Charlotte Elizabeth, 1790-1846--Political and social views.

Charlotte Elizabeth.

Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870--Political and social views.

Dickens, Charles.

Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870.

Charlotte Elizabeth, 1790-1846.

Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, 1810-1865.

English fiction--19th century--History and criticism.

English fiction.

Sentimentalism in literature.

Literature and society--Great Britain--History--19th century.

Literature and society.

Political and social views.

Great Britain.

History.

Women and literature--Great Britain--History--19th century.

Women and literature.

Didactic fiction, English--History and criticism.

Didactic fiction, English.

Social problems in literature.

Social ethics in literature.

Sympathy in literature.

Great Britain--History--Victoria, 1837-1901.

Physical Description:

viii, 157 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Peter Lang, [1999]

Contents:

Chapter 1 Critical Visions and Revisions: A Critical History of the Sentimental 11

I. "The Most Exquisite Sensibility": The Eighteenth-Century Origins of Sentimentalism 11

II. Sentimentalism and Literary Criticism 23

III. Mixed Feelings: "Extraordinary" Women and Traditional Feminist Criticism of the Sentimental 32

Chapter 2 Preaching Pity: Women Writers and the Development of a Victorian Cultural Discourse of Social Reform 45

I. The Death of the Moral Economy: Social Change and the Need for a New Cultural Discourse 48

II. The "Two Nations" and the Women Writer 53

III. "The Talent of Female Influence": The Power of Sentimental Morality 60

Chapter 3 "Mr. Popular Sentiment": Dickens and the Gender Politics of Sentimentalist Discourse 77

I. "My glance at the New Poor Law": Pathos and Parish Boys in Oliver Twist 83

II. "Sentimental Philanthropist," "Humanity-Monger," and "Feminine" Genius: the Struggles of a Literary Cross-Dresser 93

Chapter 4 "I Know Nothing of Political Economy": Elizabeth Gaskell's Call to Sympathy 109.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [143]-153) and index.

ISBN:

0820439037

OCLC:

37854193