The Most Dreadful Visitation: Male Madness in Victorian Fiction (Liverpool University Press - Liverpool English Texts & Studies)

Victorian literature is rife with scenes of madness, with mental disorder functioning as everything from a simple plot device to a commentary on the foundations of Victorian society. But while madness in Victorian fiction has been much studied, most scholarship has focused on the portrayal of madness in women; male mental disorder in the period has suffered comparative neglect. Valerie Pedlar corrects this imbalance in The Most Dreadful Visitation . This extraordinary study explores a wide range of Victorian writings to consider the relationship between the portrayal of mental illness in literary works and the portrayal of similar disorders in the writings of doctors and psychologists. Pedlar presents in-depth studies of Dickens's Barnaby Rudge , Tennyson's Maud , Wilkie Collins's Basil , and Trollope's He Knew He Was Right , considering each work in the context of Victorian understandings—and fears—of mental degeneracy. (20080301) Victorian Literature Is Rife With Scenes Of Madness, With Mental Disorder Functioning As Everything From A Simple Plot Device To A Commentary On The Foundations Of Victorian Society. But While Madness In Victorian Fiction Has Been Much Studied, Most Scholarship Has Focused On The Portrayal Of Madness In Women; Male Mental Disorder In The Period Has Suffered Comparative Neglect. In The Most Dreadful Visitation, Valerie Pedlar Redresses The Balance. This Study Explores A Wide Range Of Victorian Writings To Consider The Relationship Between The Portrayal Of Similar Disorders In The Writings Of Doctors And Psychologists. Pedlar Presents In-depth Studies Of Dickens's Barnaby Rudge, Tennyson's Maud, Bram Stoker's Dracula And Trollope's He Knew He Was Right, Considering Each Work In The Context Of Victorian Understandings - And Fears - Of Mental Degeneracy.--jacket. Insurrection And Imagination : Idiocy And Barnaby Rudge -- Thwarted Lovers : Basil And Maud -- Wrongful Confinement, Sensationalism And Hard Cash -- Madness And Marriage -- The Zoophagus Maniac : Madness And Degeneracy In Dracula. Valerie Pedlar. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [163]-177) And Index. An Open Access edition of this book is available on the Liverpool University Press website and the OAPEN library.Victorian literature is rife with scenes of madness, with mental disorder functioning as everything from a simple plot device to a commentary on the foundations of Victorian society. But while madness in Victorian fiction has been much studied, most scholarship has focused on the portrayal of madness in women; male mental disorder in the period has suffered comparative neglect. Valerie Pedlar corrects this imbalance in The ‘Most Dreadful Visitation.'This extraordinary study explores a wide range of Victorian writings to consider the relationship between the portrayal of mental illness in literary works and the portrayal of similar disorders in the writings of doctors and psychologists. Pedlar presents in-depth studies of Dickens's Barnaby Rudge, Tennyson's Maud, Wilkie Collins's Basil, and Trollope's He Knew He Was Right, considering each work in the context of Victorian understandings—and fears—of mental degeneracy. Victorian literature is rife with scenes of madness, with mental disorder functioning as everything from a simple plot device to a commentary on the foundations of Victorian society. But while madness in Victorian fiction has been much studied, most scholarship has focused on the portrayal of madness in women; male mental disorder in the period has suffered comparative neglect. In 'The Most Dreadful Visitation', Valerie Pedlar redresses the balance. This extraordinary study explores a wide range of Victorian writings to consider the relationship between the portrayal of mental illness in literary works and the portrayal of similar disorders in the writings of doctors and psychologists. Pedlar presents in-depth studies of Dickens's Barnaby Rudge, Tennyson's Maud, Wilkie Collins's Basil and Trollope's He Knew He Was Right, considering each work in the context of Victorian understandings - and fears - of mental degeneracy "Victorian literature is rife with scenes of madness, with mental disorder functioning as everything from a simple plot device to a commentary on the foundations of Victorian society. But while madness in Victorian fiction has been much studied, most scholarship has focused on the portrayal of madness in women; male mental disorder in the period has suffered comparative neglect. This book corrects this imbalance by exploring a wide range of Victorian writings to consider the relationship between the portrayal of mental illness in literary works and the portrayal of similar disorders in the writings of doctors and psychologists. The book presents in-depth studies of Dickens' Barnaby Rudge, Tennyson's Maud, Wilkie Collins' Basil and Trollope's He Knew He Was Right, considering each work in the context of Victorian understandings -- and fears -- of mental degeneracy."--Publisher's description Title Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Introduction......Page 10 1: Insurrection and Imagination: Idiocy and Barnaby Rudge......Page 36 2: Thwarted Lovers: Basil and Maud......Page 62 3: Wrongful Confinement, Sensationalism and Hard Cash......Page 89 4: Madness and Marriage......Page 120 5: The Zoophagous Maniac: Madness and Degeneracy in Dracula......Page 143 Conclusion......Page 168 Bibliography......Page 172 Index ......Page 187