Men beyond desire : manhood, sex, and violation in American literature / David Greven.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Greven, David.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American literature--19th century--History and criticism.

American literature.

Masculinity in literature.

Social isolation in literature.

Self-control in literature.

Chastity in literature.

Sex role in literature.

Violence in literature.

Desire in literature.

Sex in literature.

Men in literature.

Physical Description:

xii, 294 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

Summary:

This book explores the construction of male sexuality in nineteenth century American literature and comes up with some startling findings. Far from desiring heterosexual sex and wishing to bond with other men through fraternity, the male protagonists of classic American literature mainly want to be left alone. Greven makes the claim that American men, eschewing both marriage and male friendship, strive to remain emotionally and sexually inviolate. Examining the work of traditional authors-Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, Cooper, Irving, Stowe-Greven discovers highly untraditional and transgressive representations of desire and sexuality. Objects of desire from both women and other men, the inviolate males discussed in this study overturn established gendered and sexual categories, just as this study overturns archetypal assumptions about American manhood and American literature.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [227]-286) and index.

ISBN:

1403969116

OCLC:

60414360