Literary networks and dissenting print culture in romantic-period Ireland

Literary Networks and Dissenting Irish Print Culture examines the origins of Irish labouring-class poetry produced in the liminal space of revolutionary Ulster (1790-1815), where religious dissent fostered a unique and distinctive cultural identity. Two Centuries Before Seamus Heaney And The 'ulster Revival', Literature In The North Of Ireland Enjoyed An Unprecedented Explosion Of Activity In Line With The Revolutionary Fervour That Swept Europe In The Period 1788-1815. This Study Uncovers A Number Of Patriotic And Sociable Projects Informed By The Culture Of Dissent Which Included: Radical Republican Politics, Conservative National Epic, Theological Pamphleteering And Patriotic Social Initiatives. Aspiring Poets, Fired By The Democratic Atmosphere Of The 1790s And Their Religious Dissenting Upbringings, Launched A Twofold Strategy Of Publishing By Subscription Through Public And Private Sociability (in Cottage Gatherings, Book Clubs And Enlightenment Republican Societies Like The United Irishmen) And Through Correspondence And Verse Epistle That Was Conducted Through The Belfast Press. This Study Also Breaks New Ground In Its Examination Of The Creation Of A New 'ulster' Identity Under The Anglo-irish Union Of 1801. The Debate Which Arose From Questions Of Identity In A Liminal Cultural Space Stimulated, Rather Than Stultified, Literary Productivity, Heightening The Importance Of The Ulster Poet As A Distinctive Romantic Literary Identity-- Table Of Contents: Acknowledgements -- List Of Abbreviations -- Introduction: Irish Poetic Networks, 1790-1815 -- 1. Sentiment, Sociability And The Construction Of A Poetic Network -- 2. The Creation Of Ulster Labouring-class Poetry -- 3. Revolution And Radical Dissenting Poetry -- 4. 'here No Treason Lurks': Post-union Bardic Regeneration -- 5. Dissenting Romanticism In The Early Enion Period -- 6. Metropolitan Print Culture And The Creation Of Literary Ulster -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Notes -- Index. Jennifer Orr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Two centuries before Seamus Heaney and the 'Ulster revival', literature in the north of Ireland enjoyed an unprecedented explosion of activity in line with the revolutionary fervour that swept Europe in the period 1788-1815. This study uncovers a number of patriotic and sociable projects informed by the culture of Dissent which included: radical republican politics, conservative national epic, theological pamphleteering and patriotic social initiatives. Aspiring poets, fired by the democratic atmosphere of the 1790s and their religious Dissenting upbringings, launched a twofold strategy of publishing by subscription through public and private sociability (in cottage gatherings, book clubs and Enlightenment republican societies like the United Irishmen) and through correspondence and verse epistle that was conducted through the Belfast press. This study also breaks new ground in its examination of the creation of a new 'Ulster' identity under the Anglo-Irish Union of 1801. The debate which arose from questions of identity in a liminal cultural space stimulated, rather than stultified, literary productivity, heightening the importance of the Ulster poet as a distinctive Romantic literary identity"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgements 15 List of Abbreviations 18 Introduction: Irish Poetic Networks, 1790–1815 20 1 Sentiment, Sociability and the Construction of a Poetic Circle 32 2 The Creation of Ulster Labouring-Class Poetry, 1790–3 68 3 Revolution and Radical Dissenting Poetry, 1791–8 102 4 ‘Here no treason lurks’: Post-Union Bardic Regeneration 141 5 Dissenting Romanticism in the Early Union Period 181 6 Metropolitan Print Culture and the Creation of Literary Ulster 215 Conclusion 253 Notes 257 Bibliography 267 Index 280 Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction: Irish Poetic Networks, 1790–1815....Pages 1-12 Sentiment, Sociability and the Construction of a Poetic Circle....Pages 13-48 The Creation of Ulster Labouring-Class Poetry, 1790–3....Pages 49-82 Revolution and Radical Dissenting Poetry, 1791–8....Pages 83-121 ‘Here no treason lurks’: Post-Union Bardic Regeneration....Pages 122-161 Dissenting Romanticism in the Early Union Period....Pages 162-195 Metropolitan Print Culture and the Creation of Literary Ulster....Pages 196-233 Conclusion....Pages 234-237 Back Matter....Pages 238-279