Victorian Writers and the Environment: Ecocritical Perspectives (Among the Victorians and Modernists)

Applying ecocritical theory to the work of Victorian writers, this collection explores what a diversity of ecocritical approaches can offer students and scholars of Victorian literature, at the same time that it critiques the general effectiveness of ecocritical theory. Interdisciplinary in their approach, the essays take up questions related to the nonhuman, botany, landscape, evolutionary science, and religion. The contributors cast a wide net in terms of genre, analyzing novels, poetry, periodical works, botanical literature, life-writing, and essays. Focusing on a wide range of canonical and noncanonical writers, including Charles Dickens, the Brontes, John Ruskin, Christina Rossetti, Jane Webb Loudon, Anna Sewell, and Richard Jefferies, Victorian Writers and the Environment demonstrates the ways in which nineteenth-century authors engaged not only with humans’ interaction with the environment during the Victorian period, but also how some authors anticipated more recent attitudes toward the environment. Applying Ecocritical Theory To The Work Of Victorian Writers, This Collection Explores What A Diversity Of Ecocritical Approaches Can Offer Students And Scholars Of Victorian Literature, A The Same Time That It Critiques The General Effectiveness Of Ecocritical Theory. Interdisciplinary In Their Approach, The Chapters Take Up Questions Related To The Nonhuman, Botany, Landscape, Evolutionary Science, And Religion. The Contributors Cast A Wide Net In Terms Of Genre, Analyzing Novels, Poetry, Periodical Works, Botanical Literature, Life-writing, And Essays. Focusing On A Wide Range Of Canonical And Noncanonical Writers, Including Charles Dickens, The Brontës, John Ruskin, Christina Rossetti, Jane Webb Loudon, Anna Sewell, And Richard Jeffries, Victorian Writers And The Environment Demonstrates The Ways In Which Nineteenth-century Authors Engaged Not Only With Humans' Interaction With The Environment During The Victorian Period, But Also How Some Authors Anticipated More Recent Attitudes Toward The Environment. Practical Ecocriticism And The Victorian Text / Laurence W. Mazzeno And Ronald D. Morrison -- Reading Nature: John Ruskin, Environment, And The Ecological Impulse / Mark Frost -- Between Bounded Field And Brooding Star: A Study Of Tennyson's Topography / Valerie Purton -- Celebration And Longing: Robert Browning And The Nonhuman World / Ashton Nichols -- Truth To Nature: The Pleasures And Dangers Of The Environment In Christina Rossetti's Poetry / Serena Trowbridge -- The Zoocentric Ecology Of Hardy's Poetic Consciousness / Christine Roth -- Early Dickens And Ecocriticism: The Social Novelist And The Nonhuman / Troy Boone -- Bleak Intra-actions: Dickens, Turbulence, Material Ecology / John Parham -- Dark Nature: A Critical Return To Brontë Country / Deirdre D'albertis -- Anna Sewell's Black Beauty: Reframing The Pastoral Tradition / Erin Bistline -- The Environmental Politics And Aesthetics Of Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines: Capital, Mourning, And Desire / John Miller -- Jane Loudon's Wildflowers, Popular Science, And The Victorian Culture Of Knowledge / Mary Ellen Bellanca -- Falling In Love With Seaweeds: The Seaside Environments Of George Eliot And G.h. Lewes / Anna Feuerstein -- Agriculture And Ecology In Richard Jeffries's Hodge And His Masters / Ronald D. Morrison -- Edward Carpenter, Henry Salt, And The Animal Limits Of Victorian Environments / Jed Mayer. Edited By Laurence W. Mazzeno And Ronald D. Morrison. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 1. Reading nature : John Ruskin, environment, and the ecological impulse / Mark Frost -- 2. Between "bounded field" and "brooding star" : a study of Tennyson's topography / Valerie Purton -- 3. Celebration and longing : Robert Browning and the nonhuman world / Ashton Nichols -- 4. "Truth to nature" : the pleasures and dangers of the environment in Christina Rossetti's poetry / Serena Trowbridge -- 5. The zoocentric ecology of Hardy's poetic consciousness / Christine Roth -- 6. Early Dickens and ecocriticism : the social novelist and the nonhuman / Troy Boone -- 7. Bleak intra-actions : Dickens, turbulence, material ecology / John Parham -- 8. Dark nature : a critical return to Bronte country / Deirdre D'Albertis -- 9. Anna Sewell's Black Beauty : reframing the pastoral tradition / Erin Bistline -- 10. The environmental politics and aesthetics of Rider Haggard's King Solomon's mines : capital, mourning, and desire / John Miller -- 11. Jane Loudon's wildflowers, popular science, and the Victorian culture of knowledge / Mary Ellen Bellanca -- 12. Falling in love with seaweeds : the seaside environments of George Eliot and G.H. Lewes / Anna Feuerstein -- 13. Agriculture and ecology in Richard Jefferies's Hodge and his masters / Ronald D. Morrison -- 14. Edward Carpenter, Henry Salt, and the animal limits of Victorian environments / Jed Mayer Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Practical ecocriticism and the Victorian text -- 1 Reading nature: John Ruskin, environment, and the ecological impulse -- 2 Between "bounded field" and "brooding star": a study of Tennyson's topography -- 3 Celebration and longing: Robert Browning and the nonhuman world -- 4 "Truth to nature": the pleasures and dangers of the environment in Christina Rossetti's poetry -- 5 The zoocentric ecology of Hardy's poetic consciousness -- 6 Early Dickens and ecocriticism: the social novelist and the nonhuman -- 7 Bleak intra-actions: Dickens, turbulence, material ecology -- 8 Dark nature: a critical return to Brontë country -- 9 Anna Sewell's Black Beauty: reframing the pastoral tradition -- 10 The environmental politics and aesthetics of Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines: capital, mourning, and desire -- 11 Jane Loudon's wildflowers, popular science, and the Victorian culture of knowledge -- 12 Falling in love with seaweeds: the seaside environments of George Eliot and G.H. Lewes -- 13 Agriculture and ecology in Richard Jefferies's Hodge and His Masters -- 14 Edward Carpenter, Henry Salt, and the animal limits of Victorian environments -- Sources for further study -- Editors and Contributors -- Index Applying ecocritical theory to the work of Victorian writers, this collection explores what a diversity of ecocritical approaches can offer students and scholars of Victorian literature, at the same time that it critiques the general effectiveness of ecocritical theory. Interdisciplinary in their approach, the chapters take up questions related to the nonhuman, botany, landscape, evolutionary science, and religion. The contributors cast a wide net in terms of genre, analyzing novels, poetry, periodical works, botanical literature, life-writing, and essays. Focusing on a wide range of canonical and noncanonical writers, including Charles Dickens, the Brontës, John Ruskin, Christina Rossetti, Jane Webb Loudon, Anna Sewell, and Richard Jeffries, Victorian Writers and the Environment demonstrates the ways in which nineteenth-century authors engaged not only with humans' interaction with the environment during the Victorian period, but also how some authors anticipated more recent attitudes toward the environment