Failures of Feeling: Insensibility and the Novel

Failures of Feeling explores the history of the insensible in the Age of Sensibility, using Enlightenment theories of the passions to place philosophy back into conversation with narrative. It proposes a fresh take on emotions in the history of the novel, illustrating a new theory of mind and the novel predicated on an essential paradox: the very phenomenon that would appear to halt feeling and plot actually compels them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2020
Publisher: Stanford University Press

This captivating book delves into the enigmatic history of the insensible in the Age of Sensibility, tracing its evolution through the uneven and complex tapestry of the English novel. Wendy Anne Lee, drawing upon Enlightenment theories of the passions, embarks on a mission to rekindle the dialogue between philosophy and narrative. While contemporary critical theory tends to simplify or overlook earlier accounts of emotions, eighteenth-century studies have primarily focused on cultural histories of sympathy. In addressing these oversights, Failures of Feeling offers a fresh perspective on emotions in the history of the novel. Through its engaging chapters, it explores literary cases of unfeeling that have left a lasting impact, ranging from the iconic scrivener who prefers to remain aloof to the reviled stock figure of the prude, to the courageous rape survivor, the burnt-out man-of-feeling, and even the hard-hearted Jane Austen herself. These pivotal instances of insensibility serve as illustrations of a novel theory of mind and the novel, grounded in an essential paradox: the very phenomenon that might seem to extinguish feeling and propel the plot actually ignites it. Contrary to the prevailing notion that fictional investment relies on a wealth of interior life, Lee demonstrates that dispassion holds the key to igniting the passions. This thought-provoking exploration of the insensible in the Age of Sensibility offers a profound reevaluation of our understanding of emotions and their role in literature, challenging our assumptions and illuminating new avenues for literary analysis and interpretation.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503615014