Melodramatic Imperial Writing: From the Sepoy Rebellion to Cecil Rhodes

Melodrama was used in British imperial propaganda during the late nineteenth century, but it also had a complex relationship with British imperial discourse. Neil Hultgren's book explores how melodrama was used to challenge narratives of British imperial destiny and racial superiority in a range of texts, from Dickens to W. E. Henley to Olive Schreiner.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Ohio University Press

Melodrama, often perceived as a blunt artistic tool, is often criticized for its reliance on improbable situations, moral binaries, and overwhelming emotion. These characteristics made it a likely ingredient in British imperial propaganda during the late nineteenth century. However, melodrama's impact extended beyond the theater, influencing various late-Victorian genres. It developed a complex relationship with British imperial discourse.

Melodramatic Imperial Writing explores melodrama as a significant element in works that highlighted the contradictions and injustices of British imperialism. It goes beyond its utility for authors crafting imperialist fantasies or supporting unjust policies. Melodrama enabled writers to challenge narratives of British imperial destiny and racial superiority.

In his book, Neil Hultgren examines a diverse range of texts, including Charles Dickens's writing on the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion, W. E. Henley's imperialist poetry, and Olive Schreiner's experimental fiction. Through this exploration, Hultgren traces a new and intricate history of British imperialism and the melodramatic mode in late-Victorian writing.

Melodrama's ability to evoke strong emotions and provoke thought made it a powerful tool for critiquing and challenging British imperialism. By examining the ways in which melodrama was used in late-Victorian literature, Hultgren sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of British imperialism and its impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821426050