Male Adolescence in Mid-Victorian Fiction: George Meredith, W. M. Thackeray, and Anthony Trollope

Alice Crossley's book explores the emergence of adolescence in the mid-Victorian period as a distinct form of experience, focusing on works by George Meredith, W. M. Thackeray, and Anthony Trollope. It argues that adolescence is more a stage of psychological awareness and maturation than a period of biological youth, providing authors with opportunities for self-reflection and social criticism. The centrality of male youth in these authors' novels re-establishes age-consciousness as an integral part of nineteenth-century debates about masculine heterogeneity.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 244 pages
\n Publication date: 30 September 2020
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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Alice Crossley delves into the captivating realm of adolescence during the mid-Victorian era, exploring the unique experiences of this transformative period. Through her meticulous examination of works by George Meredith, W. M. Thackeray, and Anthony Trollope, Crossley unveils adolescence as a distinct category of identity that stands apart from other masculine types. Rather than being merely a phase of biological youth, adolescence becomes a stage of profound psychological awareness and maturation. Crossley argues that the malleability of male adolescence offers these authors a rich platform for self-reflection and social criticism. By delving into the complexities of motivation, egotism, emotional and physical relationships, and the pursuit of self-creation, they offer insightful narratives that challenge societal norms and expectations. Moreover, adolescence becomes a focal point for these authors to explore cultural and personal anxieties about manliness, reshaping age-consciousness as an integral part of nineteenth-century debates on masculine heterogeneity. Crossley's comprehensive analysis sheds light on the profound impact of this transformative stage on individuals and society, highlighting the enduring relevance of these literary works in understanding the complexities of human development.

\n Weight: 388g\n
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780367666248\n \n