Imperial Paradoxes: Training the Senses and Tasting the Eighteenth Century

Britain and France engaged in scientific and industrial advancements due to their imperial rivalry in the 18th century. Migration and philosophical exchanges fueled their shared interest in standards of living and cultural practices, leading to the exploration of self-knowledge and pleasure through literature. This book applies cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and pedagogical theory to literature from the 18th century to understand the importance of eating, drinking, dressing, and traveling in individual literary works and literary history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Despite their enduring imperial rivalry, eighteenth-century Britain and France engaged in a remarkable exchange of demographics, social structures, and economic developments. Paradoxically, this rivalry fueled their participation in scientific and industrial advancements, driven by a shared interest in improving standards of living and cultural practices. Migration and philosophical exchanges played a pivotal role in transmitting the values of urban geography, medicine, teaching, and the industrial and fine arts between the two nations.

In his book, "Imperial Paradoxes," Robert Merrett delves into the comparative literature of Britain and France, exploring how food, wine, fashion, and tourism served as channels for interdisciplinary relations. He demonstrates how authors in both countries transformed the concept of empire from mere commercial and military expansion into a metaphor for self-discovery and pleasure. While cognitive science has gained prominence in recent decades, eighteenth-century writers already ventured into exploring the dualist and faculty psychology of Western rationalism. Merrett incorporates themes of embodiment and embodied thought from contemporary theorists, alongside dialectics and models of the senses working in harmony.

Rather than adhering to strict chronology, "Imperial Paradoxes" weaves together multiple narratives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the period. By applying major works in cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and pedagogical theory to prose, poetry, and drama from the eighteenth century, Merrett demonstrates how attention to eating, drinking, dressing, and traveling offers valuable insights into individual literary works and literary history as a whole.

Through his meticulous analysis, Merrett sheds light on the complex interplay between empire, culture, and the human experience, offering a fresh perspective on the literary and intellectual landscape of eighteenth-century Europe.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228006848