The Victorian Idyll in Art and Literature: Subject, Ecology, Form

This book explores the Victorian idyll, a formal mode widely practised in nineteenth-century British culture across media and genre, and its relationship with contemporary ecological and queer theory. It traces the emergence, flourishing, and evolution of the idyll, highlighting the radicalism of experiments with pictorial, photographic, dramatic, literary, and poetic form. By approaching the idyll through three intersecting categories—subject, ecology, and form—the book remaps Victorian culture, reshapes thinking about artistic form in the nineteenth century, and recalibrates accepted chronologies. It provides provocative imaginative material for ecocritics, scholars, writers, and artists, and will be of interest to scholars working in art history, English literature, Victorian studies, British history, queer and trans* theory, musicology, and ecocriticism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Introduction:
The Victorian era, a time of immense cultural and social transformation in nineteenth-century Britain, is often associated with a romanticized vision of rural life and the countryside. However, this perception overlooks the complex and multifaceted nature of the Victorian idyll, which emerged as a formal mode of artistic expression in the 1830s and flourished in the 1860s. This book aims to pioneer the theorization of the Victorian idyll, exploring its nature, characteristics, and significance as a widely practised formal mode in nineteenth-century British culture across various media and genres.
Chapters:
Chapter 1: The Emergence of the Victorian Idyll
In the 1830s, the Victorian idyll began to take shape, emerging as a response to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of Britain. Artists and writers sought to escape the pressures of modernity and return to a simpler, more pastoral way of life. This chapter traces the emergence of the Victorian idyll in the 1830s, highlighting the influence of Romanticism and the Gothic genre on its development.
Chapter 2: The Flourishing of the Victorian Idyll
In the 1860s, the Victorian idyll reached its peak, with artists and writers exploring new and innovative ways to express their vision of the countryside. This chapter examines the flourishing of the Victorian idyll in the 1860s, focusing on the radicalism of idyllic experiments with pictorial, photographic, dramatic, literary, and poetic form. canonical and lesser-known figures are explored, highlighting the diverse range of artistic expressions that emerged during this period.
Chapter 3: The Evolution of the Victorian Idyll
As the nineteenth century progressed, the Victorian idyll evolved and adapted to changing cultural and social conditions. This chapter explores the evolution of the Victorian idyll up to the century's close, drawing attention to the radicalism of idyllic experiments with pictorial, photographic, dramatic, literary, and poetic form in the work of canonical and lesser-known figures. The chapter also recalibrates accepted chronologies, challenging traditional narratives of Victorian culture.
Approaching the Idyll through Three Intersecting Categories:
To approach the Victorian idyll, this book employs three intersecting categories: subject, ecology, and form. By examining the representations by a host of Victorian artists and writers engaging with other-than-human forms, and by exploring the natures of the subjectivities animated by these encounters, this book offers provocative imaginative material for ecocritics, scholars, writers, and artists today.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book pioneers the theorization of the Victorian idyll, establishing its nature, characteristics, and significance as a widely practised formal mode in nineteenth-century British culture across various media and genres. By tracing the emergence, flourishing, and evolution of the Victorian idyll, this book offers a fresh perspective on Victorian culture and recalibrates our understanding of artistic form in the nineteenth century. The representations by Victorian artists and writers engaging with other-than-human forms provide valuable imaginative material for ecocritics, scholars, writers, and artists, and the book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, English literature, Victorian studies, British history, queer and trans* theory, musicology, and ecocriticism. The book will also enliven debates pertaining to the environmental across periods.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032356785