Radical Orientalism: Rights, Reform, and Romanticism (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism, Series Number 111)

This fascinating study reveals the extent to which the Orientalism of Byron and the Shelleys resonated with the reformist movement of the Romantic era. It documents how and why radicals like Bentham, Cobbett, Carlile, Hone and Wooler, among others in post-Revolutionary Britain, invoked Turkey, North Africa and Mughal India when attacking and seeking to change their government's domestic policies. Examining a broad archive ranging from satires, journalism, tracts, political and economic treatises, and public speeches, to the exotic poetry and fictions of canonical Romanticism, Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud shows that promoting colonization was not Orientalism's sole ideological function. Equally vital was its aesthetic and rhetorical capacity to alienate the people's affection from their rulers and fuel popular opposition to regressive taxation, penal cruelty, police repression, and sexual regulation. This Fascinating Study Reveals The Extent To Which The Orientalism Of Byron And The Shelleys Resonated With The Reformist Movement Of The Romantic Era. It Documents How And Why Radicals Such As Bentham, Cobbett, Carlile, Hone, And Wooler, Among Others In Post-revolutionary Britain, Invoked Turkey, North Africa, And Mughal India When Attacking And Seeking To Change Their Government's Domestic Policies. Examining A Broad Archive Ranging From Satires, Journalism, Tracts, Political And Economic Treatises, And Public Speeches To The Exotic Poetry And Fictions Of Canonical Romanticism, Gerard Cohen-vrignaud Shows That Promoting Colonization Was Not Orientalism's Sole Ideological Function. Equally Vital Was Its Aesthetic And Rhetorical Capacity To Alienate The People's Affection From Their Rulers And Fuel Popular Opposition To Regressive Taxation, Penal Cruelty, Police Repression, And Sexual Regulation--page [i]. Introduction: Radical Orientalism And The Rights Of Man -- 1. Cruel And Unusual Romance: Beckford, Byron, And The Abomination Of Violence --2. Reading The Oriental Riot Act: Petition, Assembly, And Shelley's Constitutional Sublime -- 3. Splendors And Miseries Of The British Sultanate: Economic Orientalism, Inequality, And Radical Satire -- 4. Reasoning Like A Turk: Indolence And Fatalism In Sardanapalus And The Last Man -- 5. Byronic Infidelity And Despotic Individuality: Sex, Religion, And Free Agency -- Bibliography. Gerard Cohen-vrignaud. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half title 3 Series 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 List of illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Radical Orientalism and the rights of man 13 1 Cruel and unusual romance: Beckford, Byron, and the abomination of violence 36 2 Reading the Oriental riot act: Petition, assembly, and Shelley's constitutional sublime 74 3 Splendors and miseries of the British sultanate: Economic Orientalism, inequality, and radical satire 112 4 Reasoning like a Turk: Indolence and fatalism in Sardanapalus and The Last Man 153 5 Byronic infidelity and despotic individuality: Sex, religion, and free agency 190 Notes 230 Bibliography 248 Index 265 This fascinating study explores why ideas of the East mattered to Romantic writers, including Byron and the Shelleys, as well as their readers, political reformers and working-class activists. Imagining and invoking the Muslim world helped radicals to formulate their opposition to electoral disenfranchisement, police repression, and economic exploitation in Britain.