The Lake Poets and Professional Identity (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism, Series Number 71)

The idea that the inspired poet stands apart from the marketplace is considered central to British Romanticism. However, Romantic authors were deeply concerned with how their occupation might be considered a kind of labour comparable to that of the traditional professions. In the process of defining their work as authors, Wordsworth, Southey and Coleridge - the 'Lake school' - aligned themselves with emerging constructions of the 'professional gentleman' that challenged the vocational practices of late eighteenth-century British culture. They modelled their idea of authorship on the learned professions of medicine, church, and law, which allowed them to imagine a productive relationship to the marketplace and to adopt the ways eighteenth-century poets had related their poetry to other kinds of intellectual work. In this 2007 work, Goldberg explores the ideas of professional risk, evaluation and competition that the writers developed as a response to a variety of eighteenth-century depictions of the literary career. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction: Professionalism and the Lake School of Poetry 11 I Young poets, old professions 15 II Romantic professionalism, then and now 20 III What is the ‘‘lake school’’? 25 IV Southey, wordsworth, quarles: one example 28 Part I Romanticism, risk, and professionalism 35 Chapter 1 Cursing Doctor Young, and after 37 I Romantic professionalism 37 II Coleridge, cottle, and john henderson 44 III ‘‘Tintern abbey’’ and night thoughts 55 Part II Genealogies of the romantic wanderer 71 Chapter 2 Merit and reward in 1729 73 I Richard savage 75 II Hume, johnson, and beattie 89 Chapter 3 James Beattie and The Minstrel 100 I Hume, reid, and beattie: what we talk about when we talk about space 101 II The minstrel: the loneliness of the long-distance writer 112 III James beattie and professionalism 123 Part III Romantic itinerants 133 Chapter 4 Authority and the itinerant cleric 135 I Itinerants and romantics 138 II Romantic itinerants in 1796 150 III Wordsworthian itinerants 161 Chapter 5 William Cowper and the itinerant Lake poet 176 I Cowper’s professional conversion 176 II Cowper and the lake poets: three examples 182 Part IV The Lake school, professionalism, and the public 201 Chapter 6 Robert Southey and the claims of literature 203 I Croft vs. southey 206 II williams vs. bland-burges 217 III love and madness 220 Chapter 7 ‘‘Ministry more palpable’’: William Wordsworth’s romantic professionalism 225 Notes 242 Introduction: professionalism and the lake school of poetry 242 1 Cursing doctor young, and after 250 2 Merit and reward in 1729 256 3 James beattie and the minstrel 261 4 Authority and the itinerant cleric 267 5 William cowper and the itinerant lake poet 272 6 Robert southey and the claims of literature 275 7 ‘‘Ministry more palpable’’: william wordsworth’s romantic professionalism 278 Bibliography 281 Index 299 The Idea That The Inspired Poet Stands Apart From The Marketplace Is Considered Central To British Romanticism. However, Romantic Authors Were Deeply Concerned With How Their Occupation Might Be Considered A Kind Of Labor Comparable To That Of The Traditional Professions. In The Process Of Defining Their Work As Authors, Wordsworth, Southey, And Coleridge - The Lake School--aligned Themselves With Emerging Constructions Of The Professional Gentleman That Challenged The Vocational Practices Of Late Eighteenth-century British Culture. They Modeled Their Idea Of Authorship On The Learned Professions Of Medicine, Church, And Law, Which Allowed Them To Imagine A Productive Relationship To The Marketplace And To Adopt The Ways Eighteenth-century Poets Had Related Their Poetry To Other Kinds Of Intellectual Work. Brian Goldberg Explores The Ideas Of Professional Risk, Evaluation, And Competition That The Writers Developed As A Response To A Variety Of Eighteenth-century Depictions Of The Literary Career.--jacket. Introduction. Professionalism And The Lake School Of Poetry -- Pt. I. Romanticism, Risk, And Professionalism -- 1. Cursing Doctor Young, And After -- Pt. Ii. Genealogies Of The Romantic Wanderer -- 2. Merit And Reward In 1729 -- 3. James Beattie And 'the Minstrel' -- Pt. Iii. Romantic Itinerants -- 4. Authority And The Itinerant Cleric -- 5. William Cowper And The Itinerant Lake Poet -- Pt. Iv. The Lake School, Professionalism, And The Public -- 6. Robert Southey And The Claims Of Literature -- 7. Ministry More Palpable : William Wordsworth's Romantic Professionalism. Brian Goldberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 271-288) And Index.