Vagrant Figures: Law, Literature, and the Origins of the Police

Nicolazzo's book explores how eighteenth-century literary representations of policing and vagrancy shaped public perceptions of police power and established the legitimacy of the modern police force. It argues that narrative, textual, and rhetorical practices played a crucial role in shaping police and legal activity and public conceptions of police power.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2021
Publisher: Yale University Press

In this groundbreaking work, Nicolazzo explores the profound impact of eighteenth-century literary representations of policing and vagrancy on the formation of colonialism, racial identity, and resource distribution. By delving into the rich tapestry of narrative, textual, and rhetorical practices of the time, she argues that these practices not only shaped the activities of the police and the legal system but also influenced the broader public perception of police power. Through extensive research spanning both sides of the Atlantic, Nicolazzo uncovers the central role of vagrancy in establishing police power as a vital tool of sovereignty in the context of settler colonialism, slavery, and racial capitalism. This book stands as a pioneering effort in the field, being the first in several generations to focus on policing and vagrancy in the eighteenth century and the first to center race and empire in its examination of literary vagrancy. Nicolazzo's work makes a significant contribution to eighteenth-century literary and cultural studies, offering a fresh perspective on the complex interplay between law, literature, and power in this pivotal historical period.

In this innovative book, Nicolazzo sheds light on the significant role of eighteenth-century literary treatments of policing and vagrancy in shaping the legitimacy of the modern police force. By examining the narrative, textual, and rhetorical practices of the time, she argues that these practices not only influenced the activities of the police and the legal system but also shaped the public perception of police power. Through extensive research spanning both sides of the Atlantic, Nicolazzo uncovers the central role of vagrancy in establishing police power as a vital tool of sovereignty in the context of settler colonialism, slavery, and racial capitalism. This book stands as a pioneering effort in the field, being the first in several generations to focus on policing and vagrancy in the eighteenth century and the first to center race and empire in its examination of literary vagrancy. Nicolazzo's work makes a substantial contribution to eighteenth-century literary and cultural studies, offering a fresh perspective on the complex interplay between law, literature, and power in this pivotal historical period.

Weight: 574g
Dimension: 241 x 167 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300241310