Feminist Realism at the Fin de Siècle: The Influence of the Late-Victorian Woman's Press on the Development of the NovelMolly Youngkin takes on a major literary problem of the turn-of-the-century: Was the transition from the Victorian novel to the modern novel enabled by antirealist or realist narrative strategies? To answer this question, Youngkin analyzes book reviews that appeared in two prominent feminist periodicals circulated during the late-Victorian era--Shafts and The Woman's Herald. Through reviews of the works of important male and female authors of the decade--Thomas Hardy, Sarah Grand, George Gissing, Mona Caird, George Meredith, Ménie Dowie, George Moore, and Henrietta Stannard--these periodicals developed a feminist realist aesthetic that drew on three aspects of woman's agency (consciousness, spoken word, and action) and emphasized corresponding narrative strategies (internal perspective, dialogue, and description of characters' actions). Still, these periodicals privileged consciousness over spoken word and action and, by doing so, encouraged authors to push the boundaries of traditional realism and anticipate the modernist aesthetic. By acknowledging the role of the woman's press in the development of the novel, this book revises our understanding of the transition from Victorianism to modernism, which often is characterized as antirealist. Late-Victorian authors working within the realist tradition also contributed to this transition, particularly through their engagement with feminist realism. Youngkin deftly illustrates this transition and in so doing proves that it cannot be attributed to antirealist narrative strategies alone. |
Contents
Spoken Word as Political Tool | 70 |
Women at Work at War and on the | 102 |
Afterword Engaging and Shaping Modernism | 173 |
Bibliography | 197 |
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Feminist Realism at the Fin de Siècle: The Influence of the Late-Victorian ... Molly Youngkin No preview available - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
action Amazing Marriage Anonymous argues assert agency assertion of agency believes Beth Book Carinthia century chapter Club Daughters of Danaus debate dialogue Diana discussion Dolgouroff Dowie emphasis especially Esther Waters Evadne female characters feminism feminist aesthetic feminist ideal feminist periodicals feminist realist aesthetic Fiction fin de siècle Fleetwood focusing Gallia gender George George Meredith girl Gissing Gissing's Hadria Hardy Hardy’s Heavenly Twins Heilmann highlights husband increased consciousness internal perspective issue John Strange Winter Jude Kapteyn late-Victorian letter Lionel literary reputation lives mainstream Margaret marriage marry Meredith modernist Mona Caird Moore Moore's Nancy narrative strategies narrator norms that support novelists Odd Women Oliphant readers recognized representation resist cultural norms Rhoda role Sarah Grand scene seems Shafts Sibthorp society spoken word Stannard story subordination of women suggests support the subordination Tess thought tion traditional Woman novel Woman’s woman's agency Woman's Herald woman's press women writers writing