Subversive Discourse

In the midst of political agitation and increased public visibility, late Victorian feminists turned to writing novels as a means of furthering their political cause without alienating readers. Subversive Discourse reevaluates this culturally significant literature that has long been considered sub-literary. An engaging investigation into the specific circumstances surrounding the production of late Victorian feminist novels, Subversive Discourse delves into the politics and ideologies feminist novels addressed and challenged. This study also considers how aesthetic ideologies served to contain and negate progressive literary agendas such as that of the feminists. Kranidis argues that the Realists appropriated feminist literary and social accomplishments and hence challenges the notion that the Realists were pro-feminist. The author outlines the character of late Victorian feminism, reactionary opposition to it, and the narrative and textual strategies devised by feminists to ensure their texts' publication in a conservative literary marketplace.

In the midst of political agitation and increased public visibility, late Victorian feminists turned to writing novels as a means of furthering their political cause without alienating readers. Subversive Discourse reevaluates this culturally significant literature that has long been considered sub-literary. An engaging investigation into the specific circumstances surrounding the production of late Victorian feminist novels, Subversive Discourse delves into the politics and ideologies feminist novels addressed and challenged. This study also considers how aesthetic ideologies served to contain and negate progressive literary agendas such as that of the feminists. Kranidis argues that the Realists appropriated feminist literary and social accomplishments and hence challenges the notion that the Realists were pro-feminist. The author outlines the character of late Victorian feminism, reactionary opposition to it, and the narrative and textual strategies devised by feminists to ensure their texts' publication in a conservative literary marketplace.

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Investigates the circumstances surrounding the production of late Victorian feminist novels, delving into the politics and ideologies the novels addressed and challenged. Kranidis also discusses the way aesthetic ideologies served to contain and negate progressive literary agendas such as that of the feminists and the narrative and textual strategies devised by feminists to ensure their texts' publication in the literary marketplace. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Rita S. Kranidis is Assistant Professor of English at Radford University.