British Romanticism and Peace

This book explores the Romantic period's writing about peace, focusing on anti-war protest and how peace can be fostered, established, and sustained. Writers such as Amelia Opie, Helen Maria Williams, William Wordsworth, William Cobbett, John Keats, and Jane Austen formulated a peace imaginary in various registers, such as identifying and eschewing traditional militaristic tropes and turning away from xenophobic discourse.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This groundbreaking work is the first to bring the interdisciplinary field of Peace Studies to bear on the writing of the Romantic period. It is particularly significant that the field focuses not only on the work of anti-war protest but also on the more purposeful considerations of how peace can actively be fostered, established, and sustained. Bravely resisting the discourses of military propaganda, writers such as Amelia Opie, Helen Maria Williams, William Wordsworth, William Cobbett, John Keats, and Jane Austen embarked on the challenging and urgent rhetorical work of imagining and inspiring others to imagine the possibility of peace.

The writers formulate a peace imaginary in various registers. Sometimes, this means identifying and eschewing traditional militaristic tropes to craft alternative images for a patriotism compatible with peace. Other times, it means turning away from xenophobic discourse to write about relations with other nations in terms other than those of conflict. If historically informed literary criticism has illustrated the importance of writing about war during the Romantic period, this volume invites readers to redirect critical attention to move beyond discourses of war and to recognize the era's complex and vibrant writing about and for peace.

The Romantic period was a time of great change and upheaval, marked by the Industrial Revolution, the rise of capitalism, and the expansion of empire. It was also a time of great creativity and innovation, as writers sought to explore new ideas and express their emotions in new ways. One of the most significant themes in Romantic literature was the idea of peace.

Romantic writers were deeply concerned with the idea of peace, and they sought to promote it in their writing in a variety of ways. They wrote about the beauty of nature, the importance of human connection, and the need for social and political reform. They also wrote about the horrors of war, the destruction it caused, and the need for peace to be established and sustained.

One of the most significant writers of the Romantic period was William Wordsworth. Wordsworth was a poet who believed that the natural world was a source of inspiration and beauty, and he wrote about the importance of preserving it for future generations. He also wrote about the horrors of war, and he expressed his opposition to it in his poem "The Prelude."

Another significant writer of the Romantic period was John Keats. Keats was a poet who believed that the power of poetry could inspire and transform the world. He wrote about the beauty of nature, the power of love, and the importance of living in the present moment. He also wrote about the horrors of war, and he expressed his opposition to it in his poem "Ode to a Nightingale."

Amelia Opie was a writer who was deeply concerned with the issue of women's rights. She wrote about the importance of women's education and the need for women to be treated with respect and dignity. She also wrote about the horrors of war, and she expressed her opposition to it in her novel "Mary Barton."

Helen Maria Williams was a writer who was deeply concerned with the issue of social justice. She wrote about the poverty and inequality that existed in society. She also wrote about the horrors of war, and she expressed her opposition to it in her novel "The Old Woman at the Bridge."

William Cobbett was a writer who was deeply concerned with the issue of political reform. He wrote about the corruption and greed that existed in the government. He also wrote about the horrors of war, and he expressed his opposition to it in his newspaper "The Political Register."

Jane Austen was a writer who was deeply concerned with the issue of social class and the importance of marriage. She wrote about the importance of love and the need for women to be able to choose their own partners. She also wrote about the horrors of war, and she expressed her opposition to it in her novel "Pride and Prejudice."

In conclusion, the Romantic period was a time of great creativity and innovation, and it was also a time of great concern for the issue of peace. Romantic writers were deeply concerned with the idea of peace, and they sought to promote it in their writing in a variety of ways. They wrote about the beauty of nature, the importance of human connection, and the need for social and political reform. They also wrote about the horrors of war, the destruction it caused, and the need for peace to be established and sustained.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 222 x 146 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198839668