Empire of sentiment : the death of Livingstone and the myth of Victorian imperialism / Joanna Lewis (London School of Economics and Political Science).

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lewis, Joanna, 1968- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Livingstone, David, 1813-1873.

Livingstone, David.

Colonies.

History.

Great Britain--Colonies--Africa--History--19th century.

Great Britain.

Emotions--Social aspects.

Emotions.

Africa.

Physical Description:

xxxviii, 266 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom : Cambridge University Press, 2018.

Summary:

This is the first emotional history of the British Empire. Joanna Lewis explores how David Livingstone's death tied together British imperialism and Victorian humanitarianism and inserted it into popular culture. Sacrifice and death; Superman like heroism; the devotion of Africans; the cruelty of Arab slavery; and the sufferings of the 'ordinary man', generated waves of sentimental feeling. These powerful myths, images and feelings incubated down the generations - through grand ceremonies, further exploration, humanitarianism, Christian teaching, narratives of masculine endeavour and heroic biography - inspiring colonial rule in Africa, white settler pioneers, missionaries and Africans. Empire of Sentiment demonstrates how this central African story shaped Britain's romantic perception of itself as a humane power overseas when the colonial reality fell far short. Through sentimental humanitarianism, Livingstone helped sustain a British Empire in Africa that remained profoundly Victorian, polyphonic and ideological; whilst always understood at home as proudly liberal on race.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1107198518

9781107198517

OCLC:

994477021