Perfecting of Nature: Reforming Bodies in Antebellum Literature

In the 19th century, Americans began to view the human body as interconnected, with the transcendentalists idealizing the self and Darwinian theory after the Civil War redefining it as reactive and malleable. Josh Doty explores antebellum American conceptions of bioplasticity, which enabled exercise fanatics, cold-water bathers, cookbook authors, and everyday readers to understand the tractable body as a way to reform the United States at the physiological level.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2020
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

The 19th century witnessed a significant shift in how Americans perceived and comprehended the human form. These novel perspectives on the body highlighted the interconnectedness of its constituent parts. The era, characterized by transcendentalist ideals and the emergence of Darwinian theory post-Civil War, redefined the human body as both reactive and malleable. Josh Doty delves into antebellum American conceptions of bioplasticity, the body's capacity to respond and adapt to internal and external forces. He contends that literature played a crucial role in shaping the cultural reception of these ideas. These new ways of thinking about the body's responsiveness to its environment enabled exercise enthusiasts, cold-water bathers, cookbook authors, and ordinary readers to understand the tractable body as a means to reform the United States at the physiological level.

Doty skillfully weaves together an analysis of religious texts, nutritional guides, and canonical literature to illustrate the fluid interplay between bodies, literature, and culture in 19th-century America. His work sheds light on the ways in which literature influenced the understanding and appreciation of the human body, contributing to the development of new health and wellness practices. Through his meticulous research, Doty provides a fresh perspective on the 19th century, highlighting the profound impact of literature on shaping our understanding of the human form.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469659619