Home, Nature, and the Feminine Ideal: Geographies of the Interior and of Empire

This work explores how the home, nature, and the feminine ideal were inexorably and universally connected, enlisted as the "handmaidens" of government, and deployed in the periodical press to affect flesh and bone, psychology and social conduct, and the spatial organization and relational dynamics of dwellings and streets, settlements and regions, and states and empires. It draws from governmentality, geohumanities, and geocriticism to converse with an extensive archive that shaped our engagements with these subjects and constituted diverse geographies of the interior and of empire.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 334 pages
\n Publication date: 15 November 2021
\n Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International
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The home, nature, and the feminine ideal – a conceptual and perfected femininity – are three interconnected elements that form the foundation of this exploration. These elements are intricately linked, forming a complex web of relationships that permeate various aspects of human life. They are enlisted as powerful tools in diverse strategies and tactics aimed at shaping the anatomo-politics of the body and the biopolitics of the population. These three entities become the "handmaidens" of government, overseeing the governance of individuals, groups, places, and spaces, as well as the movements of people and things.

A significant focus of this work is on the periodical press, which serves as a powerful medium for producing and disseminating narratives, discourses, and practices that are specifically related to health and well-being. These texts are deployed in ways that impact the physical body, psyche, and social behavior, as well as the spatial organization and relational dynamics of dwellings, streets, settlements, regions, and states. The reach of these activities extends across the Anglophone world, spanning from the epicenters of the United Kingdom and the United States to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, and beyond. This work spans the entirety of the long nineteenth century, providing a comprehensive examination of the ways in which these elements have shaped our engagements with home, nature, and the feminine ideal.

Elaine Stratford draws upon governmentality, geohumanities, and geocriticism to engage with an extensive archive that has profoundly influenced our relationships with these three elements. This archive encompasses a wide range of sources, including literature, art, scientific journals, government documents, and personal narratives. Through this rich tapestry, Stratford explores the ways in which these elements have shaped our collective capacity to flourish, as well as the diverse geographies of the interior and of empire that continue to shape our world today.

In conclusion, this work offers a profound exploration of the interconnectedness of the home, nature, and the feminine ideal. It highlights the ways in which these elements are enlisted as powerful tools in shaping the anatomo-politics of the body and the biopolitics of the population. Through the deployment of diverse strategies and tactics, as well as the influence of the periodical press, these elements become the "handmaidens" of government, overseeing the governance of individuals, groups, places, and spaces, as well as the movements of people and things. The reach of these activities extends across the Anglophone world, spanning the entirety of the long nineteenth century. By drawing upon governmentality, geohumanities, and geocriticism, Elaine Stratford provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which these elements have shaped our collective history and continue to influence our world today.

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Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781783485093\n \n