Nineteenth-Century American Literature and the Discourse of Natural History

Nineteenth-Century American Literature and the Discourse of Natural History explores how literary experimentation with natural history offers insights into environmental survival, feminist revisions of scientific objectivity, and the connections between species migration and racial uplift.

Format: Hardback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Nineteenth-Century American Literature and the Discourse of Natural History explores the profound interplay between literary experimentation and natural history, shedding light on the enigmatic perspectives of environmental survival. This captivating book weaves together feminist revisions of scientific objectivity and critical race theory on diaspora, unveiling the profound influence of biogeography on the material and metaphorical concepts of species and race. It also highlights the lesser-known contributions of writers of color, such as Simon Pokagon and James McCune Smith, who intricately linked species migration and mutability to forms of racial uplift. By contextualizing these literary visions within the backdrop of Darwinian theories of evolution and the expansion of American settler colonialism, the book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the delicate balance between environmental fragility and survival.

The book delves into the intricate relationship between nineteenth-century American literature and the discourse of natural history, shedding light on the profound perspectives of environmental survival. Through a meticulous exploration of feminist revisions of scientific objectivity and critical race theory on diaspora, it unveils the profound influence of biogeography on the material and metaphorical concepts of species and race. It also highlights the lesser-known contributions of writers of color, such as Simon Pokagon and James McCune Smith, who intricately linked species migration and mutability to forms of racial uplift. By contextualizing these literary visions within the backdrop of Darwinian theories of evolution and the expansion of American settler colonialism, the book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the delicate balance between environmental fragility and survival.

Moreover, the book situates these literary visions of environmental fragility and survival amidst the development of Darwinian theories of evolution and against the backdrop of westward expanding American settler colonialism. It provides a rich tapestry of insights that challenge our understanding of the natural world, human history, and the complex interplay between the two. This interdisciplinary work is a testament to the power of literature to illuminate the complexities of our world and inspire us to confront the challenges of environmental sustainability and social justice.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108845717