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):

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

American literature.

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

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

Protest literature, American--History and criticism.

Protest literature, American.

Enthusiasm in literature.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (299 pages)

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2016

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : 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:

Previously issued in print: 2016.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

979-88-908504-9-2

979-88-908505-0-8

1-4696-2973-9

1-4696-2974-7

OCLC:

959830788