Poetics of the Pillory: English Literature and Seditious Libel, 1660-1820

English literature was freed from government control after the Licensing Act of 1695, but post-publication retribution became a greater constraint on expression. This book argues that the persistence of censorship in the post-licensing world led to the development of literary complexity such as ambiguity, ellipsis, indirection, and irony.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In his renowned work "History of England," published in 1695, the esteemed historian Thomas Macaulay made a profound observation about the impact of the Licensing Act on English literature. He declared that English literature had been liberated, and liberated forever, from the control of the government. While it is true that the system of prior restraint, as enshrined in the Restoration measure, had come to an end, at least for print, it is essential to recognize that government control had taken a different form. Instead of pre-publication licensing, government control now operated through post-publication retribution, particularly for the common-law offense of seditious libel. This new regime posed a greater constraint on expression for many authors, including Defoe, Cobbett, and others. The unpredictability and severity of the punishment, such as the pillory, added to the sense of fear and repression. However, it is also possible to view this constraint as an energizing force. Throughout the eighteenth century and into the Romantic period, writers developed and refined ingenious techniques for communicating dissident or otherwise contentious meanings while rendering the meanings deniable. This book, spanning both history and criticism, explores the rise and fall of seditious libel prosecution, as well as the theatrical spectacle of the pillory. It argues that the characteristic forms of literary complexity that emerged during this period, such as ambiguity, ellipsis, indirection, and irony, can be traced back to the persistence of censorship in the post-licensing world. The argument unfolds through a series of case studies, examining the works of major poets and prose writers like Dryden, Defoe, Pope, Fielding, Johnson, and Southey. Additionally, the book highlights numerous lesser-known satires and libels that were published during this extended period. By examining these cases, the author seeks to shed light on the complex interplay between literature, censorship, and government control, and how it shaped the development of English literature over the centuries.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 139 x 202 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198744498