Nervous acts : essays on literature, culture, and sensibility

Between 1970 and 2000 George Rousseau wrote a series of landmark essays about the role of nervous physiology in literature and history that altered the landscape of eighteenth-century studies. The essays changed the direction of some Enlightenment thought and configured the rise of sensibility in new ways. Since then much work has been done which engages, challenges, adopts, and expands on Rousseau's original discussions. This volume collects and reprints the most important of those essays and surveys the current critical moment as it touches on the vocabularies Rousseau pioneered. The introduction surveys nerves from the ancients to the moderns, and then selects examples in literature where the literary and moral elements of nervous discourse are especially prominent. The epilogue engages with the critical reception of the original essays and provides biographical and critical reflections on the legacy of the nerves in literary scholarship. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Part I Introduction......Page 14 1 Nerves and neurons in human evolution......Page 16 2 Nerves and selves in the ancient world......Page 23 3 Early modern nerves......Page 27 4 'Fire in the soul': the animal spirits......Page 31 5 'Spirits' and mystical nervous fluids......Page 35 6 Gendered bodies and 'nerve doctors'......Page 38 7 Passions, emotions, affections: writing out the nervous sentiments......Page 45 8 The 'nervous' style......Page 53 9 Nerves and music: the aesthetic debates, 1740–1890......Page 59 10 Nerves and 'modern life'......Page 67 11 'Literary nerves' and evolutionary biology......Page 70 12 Coda: discursivity and the pharmacological future......Page 81 Part II Essays, 1969–1993......Page 94 2 Science and the Discovery of the Imagination (1969)......Page 96 3 Pineapples, Pregnancy, and Pica: Nerves and the 'Mother's Imagination' (1972)......Page 126 4 Nerves and Racism: Le Cat's Neurology of Racism (1973)......Page 154 5 Nerves, Spirits and Fibres: Toward the Origins of Sensibility (1975)......Page 170 6 Nerves and Nymphomania: Bienville and Female Sensibility (1982)......Page 198 7 Discourses of the Nerve (1989)......Page 224 8 Towards a Semiotics of the Nerve (1991)......Page 256 9 'Strange Pathology': Nerves and the Hysteria Diagnosis in Early Modern Europe (1993)......Page 310 Part III Epilogue......Page 352 Epilogue 2004......Page 354 Bibliography......Page 363 C......Page 403 H......Page 404 N......Page 405 P......Page 406 V......Page 407 Y......Page 408 Between 1965 And 2000 George Rousseau Wrote A Series Of Landmark Essays About The Role Of The Nervous System In The Rise Of Literature And Sensibility That Altered The Landscape Of Eighteenth-century Studies. Now These Essays Have Been Collected For The First Time. The Arguments Challenge Thinking About The Enlightenment And Reconfigure The Contexts Of European Sensibility. Since Their Original Publication Much Criticism And Scholarship Has Been Produced That Engages, Adopts, And Expands On Rousseau's Discussions. The New Introductory Essay Surveys This Fascinating Cultural Profile From The Ancients To The Moderns, And Provides A Personal Account Of What The Author's Quest For The Past Has Entailed. The Epilogue Engages With The Critical Reception Of The Original Essays And Glances At The Future Of Nerves: Ethically, Morally, And In The Light Of The Stresses Of Modern Life.--jacket. Originated Neurology : Nerves, Spirits, And Fibers, 1969-2004 -- Science And The Discovery Of The Imagination (1969) -- Pineapples, Pregnancy, And Pica : Nerves And The Mother's Imagination (1972) -- Nerves And Racism : Le Cat's Neurology Of Racism (1973) -- Nerves, Spirits, And Fibres : Toward The Origins Of Sensibility (1975) -- Nerves And Nymphomania : Bienville And Female Sensibility (1982) -- Discourses Of The Nerve (1989) -- Towards A Semiotics Of The Nerve (1991) -- Strange Pathology : Nerves And The Hysteria Diagnosis In Early Modern Europe (1993). By George S. Rousseau. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 350-389) And Index. Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Part I Introduction 14 1 'Originated Neurology': Nerves, Spirits and Fibers, 1969–2004 16 1 Nerves and neurons in human evolution 16 2 Nerves and selves in the ancient world 23 3 Early modern nerves 27 4 'Fire in the soul': the animal spirits 31 5 'Spirits' and mystical nervous fluids 35 6 Gendered bodies and 'nerve doctors' 38 7 Passions, emotions, affections: writing out the nervous sentiments 45 8 The 'nervous' style 53 9 Nerves and music: the aesthetic debates, 1740–1890 59 10 Nerves and 'modern life' 67 11 'Literary nerves' and evolutionary biology 70 12 Coda: discursivity and the pharmacological future 81 Part II Essays, 1969–1993 94 2 Science and the Discovery of the Imagination (1969) 96 3 Pineapples, Pregnancy, and Pica: Nerves and the 'Mother's Imagination' (1972) 126 4 Nerves and Racism: Le Cat's Neurology of Racism (1973) 154 5 Nerves, Spirits and Fibres: Toward the Origins of Sensibility (1975) 170 6 Nerves and Nymphomania: Bienville and Female Sensibility (1982) 198 7 Discourses of the Nerve (1989) 224 8 Towards a Semiotics of the Nerve (1991) 256 9 'Strange Pathology': Nerves and the Hysteria Diagnosis in Early Modern Europe (1993) 310 Part III Epilogue 352 Epilogue 2004 354 Bibliography 363 Index 403 A 403 B 403 C 403 D 404 E 404 F 404 G 404 H 404 I 405 J 405 K 405 L 405 M 405 N 405 O 406 P 406 R 407 S 407 T 407 U 407 V 407 W 408 Y 408 Between 1965 and 2000 George Rousseau wrote a series of landmark essays about the role of the nervous system in the rise of literature and sensibility that altered the landscape of eighteenth-century studies. He showed that the nervous system was a crucial determinant in the rise of recent culture. More than any other body part it held the key to understanding how far back the strains and stresses of modern life - fatigue, depression, mental illness - extended. Now these essays have been collected for the first time. The arguments challenge thinking about the Enlightenment and reconfigure the contexts of European sensibility. Since their original publication much criticism and scholarship has been produced that engages, adopts, and expands on Rousseau's discussions. The new introductory essay surveys this fascinating cultural profile from the ancients to the moderns, and provides a personal account of what the author's quest for the past has entailed. The epilogue engages with the critical reception of the original essays and glances at the future of nerves: ethically, morally, and in the light of the stresses of modern life "Between 1965 and 2000 George Rousseau wrote a series of landmark essays about the role of the nervous system in the rise of literature and sensibility that altered the landscape of eighteenth-century studies. Now these essays have been collected for the first time. The arguments challenge thinking about the Enlightenment and reconfigure the contexts of European sensibility. Since their original publication much criticism and scholarship has been produced that engages, adopts, and expands on Rousseau's discussions. The new introductory essay surveys this fascinating cultural profile from the ancients to the moderns, and provides a personal account of what the author's quest for the past has entailed. The epilogue engages with the critical reception of the original essays and glances at the future of nerves: ethically, morally, and in the light of the stresses of modern life."--BOOK JACKET These essays demonstrate the sweeping influence of the human nervous system on the rise of literature and sensibility in early modern Europe. The brain and nerves have usually been treated as narrow topics within the history of science and medicine. Now George Rousseau, an international authority on the relations of literature and medicine, demonstrates why a broader context is necessary. The nervous system was a crucial factor in the rise of recent civilization. More than any other body part, it holds the key to understanding how far back the strains and stresses of modern life - fatigue, depression, mental illness - extend.