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"The British historical novel has often been defined in the terms set by Walter Scott's fiction, as a reflection on a clear break between past and present. Reinventing Liberty challenges this view by returning us to the rich range of historical novels written in the late eighteenth-century. It explores how these works participated in a contentious debate concerning political change and British national identity. Ranging across well-known writers, such as William Godwin, Horace Walpole and Frances Burney, to lesser-known figures, including Cornelia Ellis Knight and Jane Porter, 'Reinventing Liberty' reveals how history becomes a site to rethink Britain as 'land of liberty' and positions Scott in relation to this tradition."--

Historical fiction, English --- English literature --- Liberty in literature. --- Commerce in literature. --- Freedom in literature --- Liberty as a theme in literature --- History and criticism. --- Nationalism in literature. --- Liberty in literature --- Commerce in literature --- History and criticism --- E-books --- Historical fiction, English. --- English literature. --- 1700-1899 --- British literature --- Inklings (Group of writers) --- Nonsense Club (Group of writers) --- Order of the Fancy (Group of writers) --- English historical fiction --- English fiction

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Sir Walter Scott is often regarded as the first historical novelist. Reinventing Liberty challenges this view by returning us to the rich range of historical fiction written in the late 18th and early 19th century. For the first time placing these works in the context of British politics and British history writing, this book redefines the historical novel, revealing a genre which seeks to manage political change through historiographical experimentation. It explores how historical novelists participated in a contentious debate concerning the nature of commercial modernity, the formulation of political progress and British national identity. Ranging across well-known writers, like William Godwin, Horace Walpole and Frances Burney, to lesser-known figures, such as Cornelia Ellis Knight and Jane Porter, Reinventing Liberty uncovers how history becomes a site to rethink Britain as 'land of liberty'. Reading Scott in relation to this tradition, Reinventing Liberty demonstrates the genre's troubled role in the construction of the myth of Britain as a nation of gradual, safe political change

Historical fiction, English --- English literature --- English literature --- Liberty in literature. --- Commerce in literature. --- Literature --- Antiquarian --- Chivalry --- History and criticism. --- History and criticism. --- History and criticism.

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Sir Walter Scott is often regarded as the first historical novelist. Reinventing Liberty challenges this view by returning us to the rich range of historical fiction written in the late 18th and early 19th century. For the first time placing these works in the context of British politics and British history writing, this book redefines the historical novel, revealing a genre which seeks to manage political change through historiographical experimentation. It explores how historical novelists participated in a contentious debate concerning the nature of commercial modernity, the formulation of political progress and British national identity. Ranging across well-known writers, like William Godwin, Horace Walpole and Frances Burney, to lesser-known figures, such as Cornelia Ellis Knight and Jane Porter, Reinventing Liberty uncovers how history becomes a site to rethink Britain as 'land of liberty'. Reading Scott in relation to this tradition, Reinventing Liberty demonstrates the genre's troubled role in the construction of the myth of Britain as a nation of gradual, safe political change

Historical fiction, English --- English literature --- Liberty in literature. --- Commerce in literature. --- History and criticism. --- Literature --- Antiquarian --- Chivalry

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Historical fiction, English --- English literature --- English literature --- Liberty in literature --- Commerce in literature --- History and criticism --- History and criticism --- History and criticism

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A political satire, 'secret history' and sexual expose; from its initial publication in 1808 Sarah Green's The Private History of the Court of England has met with a divided but impassioned critical reaction. Much of this response was due to Green's scathing parody of the Prince of Wales through depicting the increasing corruption of 'heir apparent' (later Edward IV) during the troubled life of Henry VI. She paints a cutting portrait of greed, scandal and decadence, mocking the Prince's descent from romantic hero Florizel to debauchee.
In drawing parallels between the fourteenth century and her own era, Green explores the limits of the genre whilst simultaneously addressing some of the central discourses of the period: sexual freedom, social injustice and the British national identity. In particular, this edition highlights the diversity of her writing - the novel's ambitious political satire and use of the genre of historical novel is strikingly different to the commentary on the literary scene and female folly found in Romance Readers and Romance Writers, also published in Pickering & Chatto's Chawton House Library: Women's Novels series.
This scholarly edition of Green's novel will prove of interest both to historians and students of political thought; equally, scholars working on English national identity and the development of the genre of satire will find her approach fascinating. Whilst an important and under-researched example of women's writing, scholars of Romanticism and the nineteenth century will also find much value in this challenging political satire.

Courts and courtiers. --- Satire, English. --- Edward --- England --- Court and courtiers