Dante Beyond Influence: Rethinking Reception in Victorian Literary Culture

Dante beyond influence is the first study to conceptualize and historicize the hermeneutic turn in Dante reception history and Victorian cultural history, charting its development across intellectual realms, agents, and forms of readerly and writerly engagement. It unearths previously unseen manuscript and print evidence and conducts a material and book-historical inquiry into the formation and popularization of the critical and scholarly discourse on Dante through Victorian periodicals, mass-publishing, traditional and Extramural higher education.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2021
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Dante's enduring influence extends far beyond his literary contributions, as this groundbreaking study reveals. It is the first to conceptualize and historicize the hermeneutic turn in Dante reception history and Victorian cultural history, tracing its evolution across various intellectual domains, agents, and forms of readerly and writerly engagement. Through extensive research, the book uncovers previously unseen manuscript and print evidence, delving into the formation and popularization of critical and scholarly discourse on Dante during the Victorian period. By examining the material and book-historical aspects, it sheds light on the transformative journey of Dante from an object of amateur interest (dantophilia) to a subject of systematic interpretive endeavors (dantismo). This shift reflects profound paradigmatic changes in Victorian intellectual and socio-cultural history.

The study explores the diverse ways in which Dante's works have been interpreted and appropriated by different intellectual communities throughout history. It examines the influence of medieval scholars, Renaissance humanists, and modern critics on the interpretation of Dante's poetry and prose. The book also discusses the impact of Dante's works on various artistic and cultural movements, such as the Romantic, Victorian, and Postmodern periods.

In addition to its historical analysis, the study offers a critical evaluation of different interpretive approaches to Dante's works. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of various scholarly interpretations and explores the potential for new and innovative approaches to Dante's literature. The book also provides a comprehensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources on Dante's works, making it an invaluable resource for scholars and students alike.

Overall, Dante beyond influence is a groundbreaking work that sheds new light on the enduring significance of Dante's works and their impact on literature, culture, and intellectual history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Dante's literature, as well as anyone interested in the broader field of medieval and Renaissance studies.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 146 x 222 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526152442