The spy figure in British radical literature, 1790-1804 : sincerity and coded language / Steph Codsi

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Codsi, Steph, author.

Series:

Edinburgh critical studies in romanticism

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English literature--18th century--History and criticism.

English literature.

Radicalism in literature.

Radicals--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Radicals.

Spies in literature.

Great Britain.

Genre:

History

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations (black and white)

illustration

monochrome

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, [2026]

Summary:

"Examines the spy figure in a selection of British radical writing from 1790-1804 Examines the spy figure in a selection of British radical writing from 1790 to1804, the decade following the French Revolution (1789) to soon after the Peace of Amiens and renewed hostilities of war (1804) Draws on a wide range of historical documents including trial literature, newspaper articles, and letters from or about spies Connects the spy figure and surveillance to the use of literary encryption in radical writing of the 1790s Maps the correlation between surveillance and Romantic sincerity Applies current theories from Surveillance Studies to illuminate modes of encryption and concerns with the spy figure in the literary works The book argues that literary authors who had initially supported the ideals of the French Revolution, became more coded and elliptical in their writing as a response to surveillance and repression in Britain in the 1790s. It shows that authors appropriated the tools of invisible state surveillance by using coded modes and methods, including pseudonymity, elision, satire, irony, innuendo, allegory and self-censorship, amongst others. These strategies were often used performatively to mock the spy figure and interrogate the encroaching culture of secrecy, silencing and suspicion; but also, as a precautionary measure to protect writers from laws against sedition and treason. Applying surveillance theory, the book provides accessible and illuminating readings of literary works by William Godwin, John Thelwall, Mary Robinson, Robert Bage, and William Blake"-- De Gruyter Brill

Contents:

‘Truth is a libel’ : the Revolution controversy : sincerity and coded language

‘Every key-hole is an informer’ : John Thelwall’s Lecture on Spies and Informers (1794), and his comic ballads

Spies, sincerity and narrative power in William Godwin’s Caleb Williams (1794)

‘Hush, walls have ears’ : French spies and performed sincerity in Robert Bage’s Hermsprong (1796)

Mary Robinson’s radical satire : mimicry, pseudonyms and The Sylphid’s ‘invisible spy’ (1799-1800)

William Blake : the spy on the Medway, ‘Satan’s watch-fiends’ and ‘the voice of honest indignation’ (1790-1804)

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from EPUB title page (De Gruyter Brill, viewed September 23, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Codsi, Steph Spy figure in British radical literature, 1790-1804

ISBN:

9781399529280

1399529285

9781399529273

1399529277

OCLC:

1611126163

Publisher Number:

CIPO000419270

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license