The significance of objects in Jane Austen's works reveals social dynamics and character symbolism. This analysis explores how ownership, purchasing, gifting, and perception of items shape the characters and their relationships in Austen's major novels, fragments, and juvenilia, offering insights into the intricate interplay between material culture and social status.
This Reader's Guide charts the reception history of Ted Hughes' poetry from his first to last published collection, culminating in posthumous tributes and assessments of his lifetime achievement. Sandie Byrne explores the criticism relating to key issues such as nature, myth, the Laureateship, and Hughes' relationship with Sylvia Plath.
Mansfield Park, Austen's first mature novel, is complex and experimental, bridging her earlier works and later masterpieces. It is considered her most autobiographical, with Fanny Price reflecting Austen's perspective. The guide explores critical responses from Austen's time to the present, offering insights into diverse interpretations and debates surrounding the novel.
Focusing on the representation of class in English poetry from Britain and Ireland, this study explores how class influences the creation, distribution, and reception of poetry from the fourteenth to the twenty-first century. It examines key factors like literacy, education, and patronage that impact poetic production, alongside the interplay between class and poetic form. Through various case studies, the book highlights notable poets and poems across different eras, providing insights into the complexities of class within the literary landscape.