Law, Literature, and the Transmission of Culture in England, 1837–1925
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:11th Nov '16
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- Hardback£145.00(9781409400141)
Cathrine O. Frank explores the intersection of law and literature through the lens of wills from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, revealing their cultural significance and the evolving relationship between these narratives.
In Law, Literature, and the Transmission of Culture in England, 1837–1925, Cathrine O. Frank explores the intricate relationship between legal documents, specifically wills, and their representation in literature during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The study begins with the Wills Act of 1837 and delves into both fictional works and actual legal texts, including case law and periodical accounts of unique wills. Frank poses two central questions: What insights into Victorian culture and personal identity emerge from the interplay of legal and literary narratives surrounding wills? Additionally, how does the transition from realist to modernist portrayals of wills reflect a growing divide between law and literature?
Frank's analysis encompasses a range of notable authors, including Emily Brontë, George Eliot, Charles Dickens, and E.M. Forster, among others. Through her examination, she uncovers the shared rhetorical significance of wills within both legal and literary contexts. This exploration reveals how these narratives competed to define a social order that valued self-determination while simultaneously recognizing individuals' connections to the broader community.
Ultimately, Frank's work enhances our understanding of the cultural importance of Victorian wills, offering valuable insights into the societal values of the time. By creating intellectual connections between the Victorian and Edwardian periods, her study appeals to scholars across various disciplines interested in the intersections of law, literature, and historical context in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
’... a useful, thoughtfully conceptualized contribution to studies of literature and the law, Frank’s book invites further study of the impact of law on the genres of the novel.’ New Books on Literature '[Frank's] explanation of the link between fiction and contemporary legislative change made a connection for me which I had only faintly appreciated before.' Supreme Court History Program Yearbook 'Frank effectively compares the trajectories of law and literature, making some striking and incisive observations without forcing the similarities or differences between the fields.' Victoriographies '[Frank's] examination of the law is thorough and quite astute; her readings of the novels are insightful and re-conceive the Victorians, Edwardians, and moderns and their relations to each other through a law and literature lens that proves a culturally sensitive way of seeing her novelistic subjects, their inter-relationships, and their identities with fresh clarity.' Nineteenth-Century Contexts ’Cathrine Frank’s Law, Literature and the Transmission of Culture in England, 1837-1927 is a welcome addition to the ever-growing scholarship not only thematically - into the important realm of wills and inheritance - but also in the periods it covers. Frank moves beyond the more common preoccupation of law and literature in the Victorian era and follows their concerns into the twentieth century and into the complexities of modernism.’ English Literature in Transition ’Catherine Frank has done a fine job of pointing out the various ways in which the relationship between law and literature enriches our understanding of Victorian culture. ... [This study] deals with critical and philosophical aspects of our subject both suggestively and interestingly.’ Victorian Periodicals Review '... this jargon-free study is worthwhile reading and will prove useful to Victorian and Edwardian scholars. Indeed, each chapter is well-structured, beginning with an extensive
ISBN: 9781138260559
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 453g
258 pages