Tennyson And Victorian Periodicals: Commodities in Context (The Nineteenth Century Series) (The Nineteenth Century Series)

This is the first book-length study of Tennyson's record of publication in Victorian periodicals. Despite Tennyson's supposed hostility to periodicals, Ledbetter shows that he made a career-long habit of contributing to them and in the process revealed not only his willingness to promote his career but also his status as a highly valued commodity. Tennyson published more than sixty poems in serial publications, from his debut as a Cambridge prize-winning poet with "Timbuctoo" in the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal to his last public composition as Poet Laureate with "The Death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale" in The Nineteenth Century. In addition, poems such as "The Charge of the Light Brigade" were shaped by his reading of newspapers. Ledbetter explores the ironies and tensions created by Tennyson's attitudes toward publishing in Victorian periodicals and the undeniable benefits to his career. She situates the poet in an interdependent commodity relationship with periodicals, viewing his individual poems as textual modules embedded in a page of meaning inscribed by the periodical's history, the poet's relationship with the periodical's readers, an image sharing the page whether or not related to the poem, and cultural contexts that create new meanings for Tennyson's work. Her book enriches not only our understanding of Tennyson's relationship to periodical culture but the textual implications of a poem's relationship with other texts on a periodical page and the meanings available to specific groups of readers targeted by individual periodicals. This Is The First Book-length Study Of Tennyson's Record Of Publication In Victorian Periodicals. Despite Tennyson's Supposed Hostility To Periodicals, Ledbetter Shows That He Made A Career-long Habit Of Contributing To Them And In The Process Revealed Not Only His Willingness To Promote His Career But Also His Status As A Highly Valued Commodity. Ledbetter Explores The Ironies And Tensions Created By Tennyson's Attitudes Toward Publishing In Victorian Periodicals And The Undeniable Benefits To His Career. She Situates The Poet In An Interdependent Commodity Relationship With Periodicals, Viewing His Individual Poems As Textual Modules Embedded In A Page Of Meaning Inscribed By The Periodical's History, The Poet's Relationship With The Periodical's Readers, An Image Sharing The Page Whether Or Not Related To The Poem, And Cultural Contexts That Create New Meanings For Tennyson's Work. Her Book Enriches Not Only Our Understanding Of Tennyson's Relationship To Periodical Culture But The Textual Implications Of A Poem's Relationship With Other Texts On A Periodical Page And The Meanings Available To Specific Groups Of Readers Targeted By Individual Periodicals.--book Jacket. Those Vapid Gift Books -- Resistance And Commodification : Tennyson's Indecent Exposure In The Periodicals -- War Scares And Patriot-soldiers : Political Poetry -- God Save The Queen : Laureatic Responses -- Transatlantic Connections. Kathryn Ledbetter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-225) And Index. Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 General Editors’ Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1 Those “Vapid” Gift Books......Page 20 2 Resistance and Commodification: Tennyson’s “Indecent Exposure” in the Periodicals......Page 58 3 War Scares and Patriot-Soldiers: Political Poetry......Page 114 4 “God Save the Queen”: Laureatic Responses......Page 156 5 Transatlantic Connections......Page 182 Appendix A......Page 216 Appendix B......Page 220 Appendix C......Page 224 Bibliography......Page 226 C......Page 240 K......Page 241 S......Page 242 T......Page 243 Y......Page 244 Despite Tennyson's supposed hostility to periodicals, Ledbetter shows that he made a career-long habit of contributing to them and in the process revealed not only his willingness to promote his career but also his status as a highly valued commodity. Her book enriches our understanding of Tennyson's relationship to periodical culture and the textual implications of a poem's relationship with other texts on a periodical page Presents a study of Tennyson's record of publication in Victorian periodicals. Despite Tennyson's supposed hostility to periodicals, this book shows that he made a career-long habit of contributing to them and in the process revealed not only his willingness to promote his career but also his status as a highly valued commodity.