The Life of Mark Akenside: The Breakthrough to Modernity

The Life of Mark Akenside is a multi-disciplinary study that explores the life and work of the 18th-century poet and doctor, Mark Akenside. It links literature with medicine and the visual arts, and is relevant to students of history, literary history, art history, poetry, modernity, gender relevance, and education, as well as the general reader. The book examines Akenside's relationship with his origins, sexuality, and changing political affiliations, and his influence on Romantic poets and landscape painting.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 08 September 2022
Publisher: McNidder & Grace

The Life of Mark Akenside is a multi-faceted work that intertwines literature, medicine, and the visual arts. Its appeal extends beyond the realm of history, literary history, art history, poetry, modernity, gender relevance, and education to encompass a wide readership, including anyone with an interest in the evolution of ideas. Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1721, Mark Akenside secured a medical degree from both Edinburgh and Leyden Universities. He settled in London in 1743, where he achieved success in both his medical practice and medical research. Above all, he is renowned for penning The Pleasures of Imagination, an epic-length poem in blank verse that defied numerous conventions of its time. This work delved into profound concepts related to human perception and the natural world, offering a unique perspective on the world. Akenside's reputation extended across Europe, and he became a national celebrity. His influence extended to the first and second-generation Romantic poets, including renowned figures such as Wordsworth, Keats, and Coleridge. Furthermore, his impact on the development of landscape painting in the early 19th century is evident through his influence on J.M.W. Turner.

This book delves into these topics, as well as the controversy and speculation surrounding Akenside's relationship with his origins, his sexuality, and shifting political affiliations during a period of economic crisis and significant social transformation. By examining these aspects, the book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the life and legacy of Mark Akenside, a remarkable figure who left an indelible mark on the fields of literature, medicine, and the visual arts.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857162373