Though the dominant trend in 19th century literature was towards the kind of realism that highlights social evils and intractable personal problems, most of the major writers of the period also persisted with fictions embodying a relatively idyllic view of contemporary life. The present study looks at ways in which some of these fictions cope with "realistic" subjects such as class conflict, sexual conflict and death, while sustaining a basically idyllic mood. It also emphasizes textual details and intertextual comparison. Examples discussed include Mary Russell Mitford's "Our Village", Tennyson's "English Idyls" and other poems, "Cranford", "Amos Barton", "Silas Marner", "Rachel Ray", "Wives and Daughters", "Under the Greenwood Tree" and "Far From the Madding Crowd". P.D.Edwards is also co-editor of an annotated edition of Anthony Trollope's "Australia".
- ISBN10 0333372301
- ISBN13 9780333372302
- Publish Date 10 November 1988 (first published 1 January 1988)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 15 January 1993
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Palgrave Macmillan
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 192
- Language English