Victorian Cult of Shakespeare - Bardology in the Nineteenth Century

This book will interest anyone who is curious about how Shakespeare became the presiding deity of English literature. It describes the Victorians' quasi-Biblical culture surrounding Shakespeare's work and discusses why Victorian devotion had an enduring impact upon English studies in the Western world.

List of contents

1. Shakespearean sermons and other pious texts; 2. The harmonies and beauties of devotional Shakespeare volumes; 3. The sonnets and the messiah; 4. The authority of the (missing) author; 5. Shakespearean clerisies and perfect texts; Conclusion. Concealed wonders and choice treasures.

About the author

Charles LaPorte is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Washington. His Victorian Poets and the Changing Bible (2011) was awarded the Sonya Rudikoff Prize for the best first book in Victorian studies.

Summary

This book will interest anyone who is curious about how Shakespeare became the presiding deity of English literature. It describes the Victorians' quasi-Biblical culture surrounding Shakespeare's work and discusses why Victorian devotion had an enduring impact upon English studies in the Western world.

Foreword

How and why did Victorian culture make Shakespeare into a literary deity and his work into a secular Bible?

Product details

• Authors: Charles LaPorte, Charles (University of Washington) Laporte
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2022
• EAN: 9781108791588
• ISBN: 978-1-108-79158-8
• No. of pages: 231
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 19th Century, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900, Literature: history & criticism, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Literature: history and criticism, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean