Catherine Crowe: Gender, Genre, and Radical Politics

Catherine Crowe (1790-1872) was a popular Victorian writer who is increasingly being recognized as an important and influential figure in the literary and Spiritualist circles of the nineteenth century. This monograph offers a reassessment of her major works, arguing that her writing is prescient and covers the Newgate genre, initiates detective fiction, includes elements of the social problem novels of the 1840s, and points the way to the sensation novels of the 1860s. She was also politically radical, vocal about womens oppression, social inequality, poverty, slavery, and animal rights. This volume aims to restore an author who was once as famous as Dickens or Thackeray to her proper place in the scholarly discussion of Victorian literature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This extensive study delves into the life and work of the renowned Victorian author Catherine Crowe (1790-1872), whose significance is increasingly being acknowledged within the literary and Spiritualist circles of the nineteenth century. Through a comprehensive reassessment of her major works, this monograph presents a compelling argument that Crowe's writing possesses a remarkable prophetic quality. While she is best known today for her captivating collection of real ghost tales titled "The Night Side of Nature: Or of Ghosts and Ghost Seers," Crowe's literary contributions extend far beyond this genre. She also authored five highly popular novels, along with numerous short stories and essays, showcasing her versatility and creativity. Innovative and occasionally groundbreaking in their approach to genre, Crowe's works encompass a diverse range of themes, including the Newgate genre, which played a significant role in the development of detective fiction. They also incorporate elements of the social problem novels prevalent in the 1840s, while simultaneously pointing towards the emergence of sensation novels in the 1860s.

Politically radical in various aspects, Crowe expressed her strong opinions on issues such as women's oppression by men, social inequality, poverty, slavery, and animal rights. This volume endeavors to re-establish an author who once enjoyed the same level of fame and recognition as celebrated figures like Dickens or Thackeray, placing her rightfully in the scholarly discourse surrounding Victorian literature.

Weight: 421g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367543389