Narrating Reality: Austen, Scott, Eliot 9781501718212

Narrating Reality offers a provocative and original critique of nineteenth-century British realist fiction and our ways

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English Pages 304 [298] Year 2018

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Table of contents :
Contents
Preface
1. Realism and Its Problems
2. Realism and Things
3. An Approach to Realist Narratives
4. Austen: Narrative, Plots, Distinctions, and Life in the Grain
5. Scott: Realism and the Other
6. Eliot: Narrating in History
Afterword
Appendix: On Tropes and Master Tropes
Index
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Narrating Reality: Austen, Scott, Eliot
 9781501718212

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NARRATING REALITY

Also by Harry E. Shaw

The Forms of Historical Fiction: Sir Walter Scott and His Successors Critical Essays on Sir Walter Scott: The Waverley Novels (editor)

Narrat ing Reality Austen, Scott, Eliot HARRY

E.

SHAW

CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS

ITHACA AND LONDON

TillS BOOK HAS BEEN PUBUSHED WITH THE AID OF A GRANT FROM THE HULL MEMORIAL PUBliCATION FUND OF CORNELL UNIVERSTIY

Copyright© 1999 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 1999 by Cornell University Press First printing, Cornell Paperbacks, 2004 Printed in the United States of America Material from "Loose Narrators: Display, Engagement, and the Search for a Place in History in Realist Fiction" by Harry E. Shaw reprinted by permission from Narrative, Vol. 3, No. 2 (May 1995). Copyright 1995 by Ohio State University Press. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shaw, Harry E., 194&-: Narrating reality: Austen, Scott, Eliot I Harry E. Shaw. p. em. Includes index. ISBN o-8ot4·3672-9 (alk. paper) ISBN o-8o14-8955·5 (paperback) 1. English fiction-19th century-History and criticism. 2. Realism in literature. 3· Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832Fictional works. 4· Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832-Technique. 5· Eliot, George, t819-t88o-Technique. 6. Austen, Jane, 1775-1817Technique. 7· Reality in literature. 8. Narration (Rhetoric) 9· Fiction-Technique. I. Title PR868.R4553 1999 823'·70912-dc21 99-24817 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low.YOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. Books that bear the logo of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) use paper taken from forests that have been inspected and certified as meeting the highest standards for environmental and social responsibility. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing to 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Paperback printing to 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

FoR JuoY, CHRISTOPHER, AND lmmittee was fonned. The link between the sublime and action, however, can itself be vexed. When Hayden White adv