Devolving English Literature (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Robert Crawford
- First Published: 1992
- Type of Work: Literary history
- Time of Work: 1780-1990’s
- Setting: Scotland, England, and the United States
- Principal Characters: Sir Walter Scott, Tobias Smollett, Robert Burns, Thomas Carlyle
- Genres: Criticism, Nonfiction
- Subjects: United States or Americans, Traveling or travelers, Literature, England or English people, Scotland or Scottish people, Anthropology or anthropologists
- Locales: United States, England, Scotland
Devolving English Literature attempts to deconstruct the received literary history that posits an “English Literature” that somehow would include Scottish, Irish, and Australian elements within it. Crawford wishes to redirect critics and readers to the provincial aspects of literature, especially Scottish literature, that remain embedded in what is called “English Literature.” He is a professor of modern Scottish literature, and his major interest seems to be in restoring Scottish literature to a separate and honored place distinct from English literature, although he...
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