Literary History Writing, 1770-1820 (Palgrave Studies in the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Cultures of Print)

This investigation of literary history writing between 1770 and 1820 identifies the mode's distinction from canon formation as central to its cultural vitality. Using secret history, memoir and the novel, amongst other sources, it invites a re-thinking of literary history's place in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century print culture. The conjunction of print and political revolutions between 1770 and 1820 generated a body of literary history writing whose competing narratives serve functions distinct from the consolidating and regulatory ones implicit in the genre's modern identification with canonicity. This first full-length investigation of period literary history argues that it accommodated adversarial positions as well as consensus, spoke to multiple readerships, fostered provisionality along with the search for certainty, and advanced a sense of historical locatedness. After 1820, however, its mediatory powers withered in response to the ascendancy of literary criticism, unease about the numbers and diversity of readers, and the perception of a national crisis post-Peterloo. Drawing on collective biography, memoir, antiquarianism, the novel, secret history, specimens, reviews and Institutional lectures, the study invites a fundamental rethinking of the place of literary history in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century print culture, and hence in the wider social and political movements it was both shaped by and itself helped shape The Conjunction Of Print And Political Revolutions Between 1770 And 1820 Generated A Body Of Literary History Writing Whose Competing Narratives Serve Functions Distinct From The Consolidating And Regulatory Ones Implicit In The Genre's Modern Identification With Canonicity. This First Full-length Investigation Of Period Literary History Argues That It Accommodated Adversarial Positions As Well As Consensus, Spoke To Multiple Readerships, Fostered Provisionality Along With The Search For Certainty, And Advanced A Sense Of Historical Locatedness. After 1820, However, Its Mediatory Powers Withered In Response To The Ascendancy Of Literary Criticism, Unease About The Numbers And Diversity Of Readers, And The Perception Of A National Crisis Post-peterloo. Drawing On Collective Biography, Memoir, Antiquarianism, The Novel, Secret History, Specimens, Reviews And Institutional Lectures, The Study Invites A Fundamental Rethinking Of The Place Of Literary History In Late Eighteenth And Early Nineteenth-century Print Culture, And Hence In The Wider Social And Political Movements It Was Both Shaped By And Itself Helped Shape. Part I: Writing And Rewriting Lives -- Writing Lives -- Rewriting Lives: Revolution, Reaction, And Apostasy -- Part Ii: Literary History And Books -- Bibliomania And Antiquarianism -- Literary History And Literary Specimens -- Part Iii: Isaac D'istaeli And Literary History -- Apostasy And Exclusion -- The Structures Of Opinion -- Part Iv: The Genres Of Literary History -- The 'whole Mind Of The Nation' -- Literary History, Periodicals, Lectures. April London. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The conjunction of print and political revolutions between 1770 and 1820 generated a body of literary history writing whose competing narratives serve functions distinct from the consolidating and regulatory ones implicit in the genre's modern identification with canonicity. This first full-length investigation of period literary history argues that it accommodated adversarial positions as well as consensus, spoke to multiple readerships, fostered provisionality along with the search for certainty, and advanced a sense of historical locatedness. After 1820, however, its mediatory powers withered in response to the ascendancy of literary criticism, unease about the numbers and diversity of readers, and the perception of a national crisis post-Peterloo. Drawing on collective biography, memoir, antiquarianism, the novel, secret history, specimens, reviews and Institutional lectures, the study invites a fundamental rethinking of the place of literary history in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century print culture, and hence in the wider social and political movements it was both shaped by and itself helped shape."--Résumé de l'éditeur Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-8 Front Matter....Pages 9-11 Writing Lives....Pages 13-26 Rewriting Lives: Revolution, Reaction, and Apostasy....Pages 27-46 Front Matter....Pages 47-47 Bibliomania and Antiquarianism....Pages 49-58 Literary History and Literary Specimens....Pages 59-80 Front Matter....Pages 81-83 Apostasy and Exclusion....Pages 85-96 The Structures of Opinion....Pages 97-110 Front Matter....Pages 111-112 The “whole mind of the nation”....Pages 113-133 Literary History, Periodicals, Lectures....Pages 134-156 Conclusion....Pages 157-160 Back Matter....Pages 161-225 This investigation of literary history writing between 1770 and 1820 identifies the mode's distinction from canon formation as central to its cultural vitality. Using secret history, memoir and the novel, amongst other sources, it invites a re-thinking of literary history's place in late 18th and early 19th century print culture