The exalted heroine and the triumph of order: class, women, and religion in the English novel, 1740-1800

The first part of this book contains background information relevant to the 18th century English novel. The second part focuses upon seven diverse, yet representative, novels of the period, paying particular attention to the presentation of class, women and religion in the works examined. The First Part Of This Study Provides Background Information To The Eighteenth-century English Novel, And Includes Discussion Of The Relationship Between Literature And Ideology, Literary Realism, The Fiction Reading/purchasing Public, And Authorial Intention And Technique. The Second Focuses On Seven Diverse, Yet Representative, Novels Of The Period, Paying Particular Attention To The Presentation Of Class, Women And Religion In The Works Examined. Whilst No Grand Theory Is Proposed, The Writer Seeks To Utilise An Approach Derived From Sociological And Marxist Thought, And To Employ It As A Practical Mode Of Criticism. Although Some Familiarity With The Novels Is Assumed In The Individual Analyses Of Each Work, The First Part Of The Study Should Be Of Interest To Anyone Curious About Eighteenth-century Fiction And The More General Issues Considered.--book Jacket. Literature And Ideology -- The Novel And Society: 1740-1800 -- Samuel Richardson: Pamela (1740) -- Sarah Fielding: David Simple (1744) -- Henry Fielding: Amelia (1751) -- Oliver Goldsmith: The Vicar Of Wakefield (1766) -- Richard Graves: The Spiritual Quixote (1773) -- Fanny Burney: Evelina (1778) -- Robert Bage: Hermsprong (1796) -- The Exalted Heroine And The Triumph Of Order. K.g. Hall. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Literature and Ideology....Pages 3-15 The Novel and Society 1740–1800....Pages 16-35 Samuel Richardson: Pamela (1740)....Pages 39-53 Sarah Fielding: David Simple (1744)....Pages 54-61 Henry Fielding: Amelia (1751)....Pages 62-73 Oliver Goldsmith: The Vicar of Wakefield (1766)....Pages 74-89 Richard Graves: The Spiritual Quixote (1773)....Pages 90-109 Fanny Burney: Evelina (1778)....Pages 110-122 Robert Bage: Hermsprong (1796)....Pages 123-138 The Exalted Heroine and the Triumph of Order....Pages 139-146 Back Matter....Pages 147-172