Modernism and the Aristocracy: Monsters of English Privilege

The book explores the literary consequences of the modernist preoccupation with aristocracy in the works of Elizabeth Bowen, Ford Madox Ford, Aldous Huxley, D.H. Lawrence, Evelyn Waugh, and Rebecca West. It argues for a reawakening of curiosity about connections between class, status, and literature in the modernist period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 13 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

During a transformative era marked by the expansion of democracy, the decline of its empire, and the devastating impact of two world wars, Britain's hereditary aristocracy found itself pushed to the periphery of national affairs. This significant shift in societal dynamics was widely observed and commented upon by contemporaries, igniting a renewed fascination with the aristocracy among modern writers. Undoubtedly, history played a pivotal role in reshaping the British aristocracy and its Anglo-Irish counterparts, leading to a profound transformation through the influence of literary modernism.

Modernism and the Aristocracy: Monsters of English Privilege delves into the profound literary consequences of this remaking. The book explores the literary responses of a cohort of influential writers from Britain and Ireland who emerged in the first half of the twentieth century. By combining a historical focus on the decades between the two world wars with a close examination of the linguistic nuances and formal structures of literary texts, Adam Parkes seeks to unravel the impact of the decline of the British aristocracy on modernist writers.

Through his meticulous analysis, Parkes poses thought-provoking questions about the imaginative and creative opportunities that the historical fate of the aristocracy presented to writers of the new democratic age. He delves into a range of emotions, affects, and attitudes that modernist authors associated with the aristocracy during the interwar period, encompassing sentiments such as stupidity, boredom, nostalgia, sophistication, cruelty, and kindness. By examining these complex associations, Parkes sheds light on the profound influence that the aristocracy had on the form and style of modernist texts.

Furthermore, the book explores why the subject matter of the aristocracy has continued to resonate with readers across generations. It examines the enduring appeal of modernist texts that delve into the complexities of class, status, and literature in the modernist period, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of the human experience. Parkes argues for a rekindling of curiosity about the connections between class, status, and literature in the modernist era, urging readers to engage with these themes in a more profound and nuanced manner.

In conclusion, Modernism and the Aristocracy: Monsters of English Privilege is a groundbreaking exploration of the complex interplay between history, literature, and social change. Through meticulous analysis and thoughtful inquiry, Parkes sheds light on the profound impact of the decline of the British aristocracy on modernist writers and offers a compelling argument for a renewed interest in the connections between class, status, and literature in the modernist period. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of literary studies and will undoubtedly inspire scholars and readers alike to explore the rich tapestry of the human experience in the context of a rapidly changing world.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 242 x 160 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192866295