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Virginia Woolf and the Politics of Language

Judith Allen author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Edinburgh University Press

Published:31st Jul '10

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Virginia Woolf and the Politics of Language cover

In the context of today's significant struggles with 'fundamentalisms', media consolidation, and the stifling of dissent, Allen's close readings of Woolf's writings focus on their relevance to our current political situation. Judith Allen approaches Woolf as a theorist of language as well as a theorist of reading, and shows how her writing strategies--sometimes single, resonant words--function to express and enact her politics. Allen also shows how Woolf's complex arguments serve to awaken her readers to the lack of transparency in the dissemination of information, the complexities and power of language, and the urgent need for critical thinking. Key Features *Close readings of Woolf's essays include 'Montaigne,' A Room of One's Own, 'Craftsmanship, Three Guineas and 'Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid' * Sources range from Michel de Montaigne to the Dixie Chicks, from the Northcliffe Press newspaper empire of World War I to today's mainstream newspapers, Rupert Murdoch's empire, satirical news shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, and social media and the blogosphere

The distillation of many years of sparklingly erudite scholarship and continuing incisive debate, Judith Allen's book is essential reading for anyone concerned by current and disturbing ramifications of the politics of language and the language of politics in the modern world. She provides a generously open guide to many of Woolf's most influential essays as well as to her major manifestos, A Room of One's Own and Three Guineas. -- Dr Jane Goldman, Reader in English Literature, University of Glasgow Guided by Montaigne's trenchant question, 'What do I know?', Judith Allen shows how the lexicon of war in the twenty-first century can be revealed in all its lamentable 'truthiness' by paying attention to what Virginia Woolf's essays have to say about the power of language to transform our world. This is a book that makes refreshingly clear Woolf's deep political engagement with the urgent issues of war and peace. -- Mark Hussey, Editor, Woolf Studies Annual A thoughtful and provocative book which ranges widely across Virginia Woolf's work, paying particular attention to her essays and to her "essayistic" writings ... Allen's book is a timely and welcome addition to Woolf scholarship and to a growing body of work on the essay itself. -- Randi Saloman, Wake Forest University Woolf Studies Annual The distillation of many years of sparklingly erudite scholarship and continuing incisive debate, Judith Allen's book is essential reading for anyone concerned by current and disturbing ramifications of the politics of language and the language of politics in the modern world. She provides a generously open guide to many of Woolf's most influential essays as well as to her major manifestos, A Room of One's Own and Three Guineas. Guided by Montaigne's trenchant question, 'What do I know?', Judith Allen shows how the lexicon of war in the twenty-first century can be revealed in all its lamentable 'truthiness' by paying attention to what Virginia Woolf's essays have to say about the power of language to transform our world. This is a book that makes refreshingly clear Woolf's deep political engagement with the urgent issues of war and peace. A thoughtful and provocative book which ranges widely across Virginia Woolf's work, paying particular attention to her essays and to her "essayistic" writings ... Allen's book is a timely and welcome addition to Woolf scholarship and to a growing body of work on the essay itself.

ISBN: 9780748636754

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 367g

144 pages