Alcohol in the writings of Herman Melville : "the ever-devilish god of grog" / Corey Evan Thompson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thompson, Corey Evan, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891--Criticism and interpretation.

Melville, Herman.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891.

Drinking of alcoholic beverages in literature.

Alcoholic beverages in literature.

Temperance in literature.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

xii, 202 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2015]

Summary:

In early to mid-19th century America, there were growing debates concerning the social acceptability of alcohol and its consumption. Temperance reformers publicly decried the evils of liquor, and America's greatest authors began to write works of temperance fiction, stories that urged Americans to refrain from imbibing. Herman Melville was born in an era when drunkenness was part of daily life for American men but came of age at a time when the temperance movement had gained social and literary momentum. This first full-length analysis of alcohol and intoxication in Melville's novels, short fiction and poetry shows how he entered the debate in the latter half of the 19th century. Throughout his work he cautions readers to avoid alcohol and consistently illustrates negative outcomes of drinking. Book jacket.

Contents:

Melville's temperance fiction

The prodromal phase of alcoholism

Melville's supposedly social drinkers

Unscrupulous sippers, smugglers and servers

Alcohol, deception and Melville's confidence men

Loss of rank, loss of reputation

Alcohol, ill heath and penury

Of grog and monsters: Melville's addiction narratives

Melville's dark temperance.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780786499601

0786499605

OCLC:

900306774