Modernist Fiction, Cosmopolitanism, And The Politics Of Community

In Modernist Fiction, Cosmopolitanism and the Politics of Community, first published in 2001, Jessica Berman argues that the fiction of Henry James, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf and Gertrude Stein engages directly with early twentieth-century transformations of community and cosmopolitanism. Although these modernist writers develop radically different models for social organization, their writings return again and again to issues of commonality, shared voice, and exchange of experience, particularly in relation to dominant discourses of gender and nationality. The writings of James, Proust, Woolf and Stein, she argues, not only inscribe early twentieth-century anxieties about race, ethnicity, nationality and gender, but confront them with demands for modern, cosmopolitan versions of community. This study seeks to revise theories of community and cosmopolitanism in light of their construction in narrative, and in particular it seeks to reveal the ways that modernist fiction can provide meaningful alternative models of community. In Modernist Fiction, Cosmopolitanism, And The Politics Of Community, Jessica Berman Argues That The Fiction Of Henry James, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, And Gertrude Stein Engages Directly With Early Twentieth-century Transformations Of Community And Cosmopolitanism. Although These Modernist Writers Develop Radically Different Models For Social Organization, Their Writings Return Again And Again To Issues Of Commonality, Shared Voice, And Exchange Of Experience, Particularly In Relation To Dominant Discourses Of Gender And Nationality. The Writings Of James, Proust, Woolf, And Stein Not Only Inscribe Early-twentieth Century Anxieties About Race, Ethnicity, Nationality And Gender, But Confront Them With Demands For Modern, Cosmopolitan Versions Of Community. This Study Seeks To Revise Theories Of Community And Cosmopolitanism In Light Of Their Construction In Narrative, And In Particular It Seeks To Reveal The Ways That Modernist Fiction Can Provide Meaningful Alternative Models Of Community.--jacket. 1. Cosmopolitan Communities -- 2. Henry James. The History Of The Voice: Cosmpolitan's America. Feminizing The Nation: Woman As Cultural Icon In Late James -- 3. Marcel Proust. Proust, Bernard Lazare, And The Politics Of Pariahdom. The Community, The Prophet, And The Pariah: Relation In A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu -- 4. Virginia Woolf. Splinter And Mosaic: Towards The Politics Of Connection. Of Oceans And Opposition: The Action Of The Waves -- 5. Gertrude Stein. Steinian Topographies: The Making Of America. Writing The I That Is They: Gertrude Stein's Community Of The Subject -- 6. Conclusion. Jessica Berman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 203-234) And Index. Jessica Berman claims that modernist fiction engages directly with early twentieth-century transformations of community. In Modernist Fiction, Cosmopolitanism and the Politics of Community, Jessica Berman argues that the fiction of Henry James, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf and Gertrude Stein engages directly with early twentieth-century transformations of community and cosmopolitanism. Although these modernist writers develop radically different models for social organization, their writings return again and again to issues of commonality, shared voice, and exchange of experience, particularly in relation to dominant discourses of gender and nationality. The writings of James, Proust, Woolf, and Stein, she argues, not only inscribe early twentieth-century anxieties about race, ethnicity, nationality and gender, but confront them with demands for modern, cosmopolitan versions of community. This study seeks to revise theories of community and cosmopolitanism in light of their construction in narrative, and in particular it seeks to reveal the ways that modernist fiction can provide meaningful alternative models of community Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 CHAPTER 1 Cosmopolitan Communities......Page 13 "THE HISTORY OF THE VOICE": COSMOPOLITAN’S AMERICA......Page 40 FEMINIZING THE NATION: WOMAN AS CULTURAL ICON IN LATE JAMES......Page 65 PROUST, BERNARD LAZARE, AND THE POLITICS OF PARIAHDOM......Page 84 THE COMMUNITY, THE PROPHET, AND THE PARIAH: RELATION IN A LA RECHERCHE DU TEMPS PERDU......Page 102 “SPLINTER” AND “MOSAIC”: TOWARDS THE POLITICS OF CONNECTION......Page 126 OF OCEANS AND OPPOSITION: THE ACTION OF THE WAVES......Page 151 STEINIAN TOPOGRAPHIES: THE MAKING OF AMERICA......Page 169 WRITING THE “I” THAT IS “THEY”: GERTRUDE STEIN’ S COMMUNITY OF THE SUBJECT ......Page 190 CHAPTER 6 Conclusion......Page 211 1 COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITIES......Page 215 2 HENRY JAMES......Page 221 3 MARCEL PROUST......Page 228 4 VIRGINIA WOOLF......Page 234 5 GERTRUDE STEIN......Page 240 6 CONCLUSION......Page 246 Index......Page 247

In this book, Jessica Berman claims that modernist fiction engages directly with early twentieth-century transformations of community and cosmopolitanism. Although modernist writers develop radically different models for social organization, their writings return again and again to issues of commonality and shared voice, particularly in relation to dominant discourses of gender and nationality. The writings of Henry James, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, and Gertrude Stein not only inscribe early twentieth-century anxieties about race, ethnicity, nationality and gender, but confront them with demands for modern, cosmopolitan versions of community.

In this book, Jessica Berman claims that modernist fiction engages directly with early twentieth-century transformations of community and cosmopolitanism. Although modernist writers develop radically different models for social organization, their writings return repeatedly to issues of commonality and shared voice, particularly in relation to dominant discourses of gender and nationality. Walter Benjamin tells us in his celebrated essay, "The Storyteller," that, in the period after the First World War, "a process that had been going on for a long time" began to become apparent.