Desire and Time in Modern English Fiction: 1919-2017

This book explores how late Victorian Aestheticist and Decadent culture influenced Modernist writing in England, particularly in terms of questions about temporality, gender, and sexuality. It examines the works of authors such as Somerset Maugham, Alfred Hitchcock, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, and Patrick Hamilton, as well as those of lesbian, postcolonial, and gay authors in the present.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the fascinating interplay between the past and the future in the works of several notable authors from the 1930s and the Second World War. It begins with Somerset Maugham's groundbreaking exploration of sexual dissidence in his South Seas novel and tales, followed by Alfred Hitchcock's queer-inflected retelling of the Jack the Ripper phenomenon in silent film. The book then examines the enduring presence of the past in the future-oriented work of Sylvia Townsend Warner, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, and the playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton.

In the final three chapters, the discussion extends to the present, focusing on the works of lesbian, postcolonial, and gay authors such as Sarah Waters, Amitav Ghosh, and Alan Hollinghurst. These chapters explore the ongoing influence of late Victorian Aestheticist and Decadent culture in Modernist writing, particularly in its permutations in England.

The book delves into profound questions about temporality, gender, and sexuality, particularly in the context of the rejection of the Victorian patriarchal marriage model. It examines how the legacy of this cultural period continues to shape and inspire contemporary literature, offering a rich and nuanced analysis of the interplay between the past and the future.

Through its comprehensive examination of a range of literary works, this book provides a valuable insight into the complex and evolving nature of historical and cultural influences on modern writing. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of history, literature, and gender studies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367490447