Liberalism, Theology, and the Performative in Antebellum American - Literatur

The 1850s United States witnessed a far-reaching political, social, and economic crisis. Symptomatic of this, a wide-range of narrative fiction from sentimental novels to sensational drama identifies a foundational link between liberal institutions and performative utterances.

List of contents

Introduction: Liberalism, Performativity, Secularism
Chapter 1: "Sometimes a real one!": Mock Marriage, Performative Utterances, and Liberal Politics in Antebellum City Mysteries Fiction
Chapter 2: Auction Goers or Lynch Mobs?: Authority and Representation in The Quadroon and The Octoroon
Chapter 3: Republican Simpliticy on Trial: Courtrooms, Aesthetics, and the Law
Chapter 4: Contracts without Covenants?: Political Authority in Moby-Dick and The Confidence-Man
Chapter 5: Political Theology in Crisis: Orestes Brownson between Hobbes and Schmitt

About the author

Patrick McDonald is an Assistant Professor of American Literature and Culture at Bilkent University. He received his Ph.D. at University at Buffalo - SUNY and has been published in ESQ, Eighth Lamp, and Researches in African Literature.

Summary

The 1850s United States witnessed a far-reaching political, social, and economic crisis. Symptomatic of this, a wide-range of narrative fiction from sentimental novels to sensational drama identifies a foundational link between liberal institutions and performative utterances.

Product details

• Authors: Patrick McDonald
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.12.2024
• EAN: 9781032368849
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3236884-9
• No. of pages: 170
• Series: Routledge Studies in Nineteenth Century Literature
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; LITERARY CRITICISM / General, North America, LITERARY CRITICISM / American / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 19th Century, Religion: general, Christianity, Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900, History of the Americas, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers