Tennyson's Scepticism (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781403991232)

Tennyson is not known for his scepticism. This book argues that he should be. It proposes a revaluation of the way in which his work is read. Tennyson has always been understood as a poet who is committed primarily to endorsing spiritual values. But this study argues that much of his poetry is driven by a metaphysical scepticism that is associated, in part, with rational perspectives deriving from Enlightenment thought. The scepticism in Tennyson's poetry partakes in the complex generation of the modern that was taking place in his era. One of the purposes of the study is to demonstrate that a cultural studies approach to Tennyson trivialises his intellectual subtlety and complexity. Making extensive critical use of Tennyson's manuscript drafts, this study provides close readings of Tennyson's earlier, shorter poems, together with the principal works of his maturity including In Memoriam, Maud and The Lover's Tale, and will be a valuable resource for Tennyson students and scholars worldwide.

Author: Aidan Day
ISBN-10: 1403991235
ISBN-13: 9781403991232
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
Language: English
Published: 09/20/2005
Pages: 225
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.80h x 6.42w x 0.72d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 07/01/2006 pg. 1992