The Work of Words: Literature, Craft, and the Labour of Mind in Britain, 1830-1940

The Work of Words explores the connection between writers' desire to prove that they work and parallel forms of craft and artisanal revival, offering a long view on writers consciously demonstrating their work from the early nineteenth century to modernism. It addresses timely concerns such as anti-capitalism, histories of slavery, and nostalgia for physical production, combining a broad history of ideas with close textual readings.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The Work of Words: Craft and Artisanal Revival in Nineteenth-Century Literature

In his groundbreaking work, "The Work of Words: Craft and Artisanal Revival in Nineteenth-Century Literature," Professor Smith delves into the intricate relationship between writers' desire to prove their worth and the parallel histories of craft and artisanal revival. This comprehensive study offers the first sustained exploration of this connection, spanning from the early nineteenth century to the period of modernism. Through a meticulous examination of writers' conscious efforts to demonstrate their work, Professor Smith provides a long-view on this phenomenon, tracing its roots from the early nineteenth century to the era of modernism.

One of the key insights of this book is its recognition of the fact that writers have always sought to establish themselves as professionals, driven by a desire to prove their worth and secure economic stability. However, rather than following the well-trodden path of seeking authorship as a middle-class profession, Professor Smith explores the alternative route taken by middle-class writers who re-presented literature as a manual craft. This shift in perspective challenges the traditional notion of literature as a high art form and highlights the importance of craftsmanship and manual labor in the production of literary works.

The book encompasses a broad range of genres and sources, including poetry, novels, letters, visual art, journalism, lectures, exhibition catalogues, radio broadcasts, and diaries. By examining these diverse materials, Professor Smith offers a rich and multifaceted account of the Victorian attempt to make composition (and related mental processes) palpable. He explores how writers sought to convey the physicality and sensory experience of writing, employing techniques such as sensory description, metrical patterns, and visual imagery to create a vivid and immersive reading experience.

Furthermore, "The Work of Words" takes a critical stance towards the de-industrialized West, recognizing the haunting presence of a lost world of material production. In the context of the tilt of world trade towards China and the recent supply chain shocks, Professor Smith argues that writers are not the only ones who are plagued by nostalgia for a bygone era of physical production. Much of the de-industrialized West is also grappling with the loss of traditional crafts and artisanal practices, a phenomenon that reflects broader societal concerns about the erosion of traditional values and the loss of economic stability.

Through his meticulous analysis, Professor Smith responds to timely concerns such as anti-capitalism, histories of slavery, and nostalgia for physical production. He explores how these issues were addressed by writers in the nineteenth century and how they continue to resonate in contemporary literature and culture. The book combines a broad history of ideas with close textual readings that respect the particularity of writers' decisions and the formal character of literature as art.

In conclusion, "The Work of Words: Craft and Artisanal Revival in Nineteenth-Century Literature" is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between writers, craftsmanship, and artisanal revival. By exploring the Victorian attempt to make composition palpable, Professor Smith provides a long-view on questions that still trouble us, including the nature of authorship, the role of literature in shaping society
society, and the enduring significance of traditional values in the face of economic uncertainty. This book is a must-read for scholars and students of nineteenth-century literature, as well as anyone interested in the broader cultural and political implications of the work of words.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 240 x 161 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399512299