Mania for freedom : American literatures of enthusiasm from the Revolution to the Civil War / John Mac Kilgore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kilgore, John Mac, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Enthusiasm in literature.

Protest literature, American--History and criticism.

Protest literature, American.

American literature--Revolutionary period, 1775-1783--History and criticism.

American literature.

American literature--1783-1850--History and criticism.

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

American literature--Revolutionary period (United States).

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xi, 284 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, [2016]

Summary:

"In this study of literature in antebellum America, John Mac Kilgore argues that a distinct rhetorical tradition of enthusiasm emerged as a form of political dissent. This was literature written to confront normative values, to respond to critical injustice, and to incite revolt, if not broad change. Literary enthusiasm came to signify a particular form of protest among marginalized groups, including commoners, slaves, immigrants, Native Americans, women, and abolitionists. These dissenting voices, these enthusiasts, fought against what they viewed as tyranny while using their writings to forge international or anti-nationalistic political affiliations"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: Enthusiasm, event, literature

An answer to the question: "What is enthusiasm?"

Rites of dissent: literatures of enthusiasm and the American Revolution

Shaking hands with the prophet: the War of 1812 and Native American enthusiasms

The revival of revolt: conjure, slave insurrection, and the novel of enthusiasm

The free state of Whitman: John Brown, the Civil War, and the dis-memberment of enthusiasm in the 1860 Leaves of grass

Epilogue: the tramp and strike question: terminal enthusiasms.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781469629711

1469629712

9781469629728

1469629720

OCLC:

945745582