Harm's way
Subtitle: tragic responsibility and the novel form
By: Sandra Macpherson.
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Baltimore
Language: eng
Number of pages: 237
ISBN-13: 9780801893841
Subjects: English fiction -- 18th century -- History and criticism; Law and literature -- Great Britain -- History -- 18th century; Liability (Law) in literature; Justice in literature; Love in literature; Murder in literature; Agent (Philosophy) in literature; Act (Philosophy) in literature
Description: In this unconventional study of the 18th century novel, Macpherson (English, the Ohio State University) argues that accident and injury, rather than volition and intention, are key elements in the early realist novel's view of personhood and belonging. She offers fresh readings of Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding, demonstrating that the liberal counter-tradition which she explores emerges from 18th century novels based on questions about agency and from contemporary developments in laws of 'strict liability.'
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Injuring love; title: Matrimonial murder; title: The encroachments of others; title: Fighting men; title: The rape of the cock; title: Bad form.