Title Romanticism, republicanism, and the Swiss myth / Patrick Vincent

Published Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2023 ©2023

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Description 1 online resource (xi, 308 pages) : illustrations, maps Series Cambridge studies in Romanticism ; 138 Cambridge studies in Romanticism ; 138. Contents "Not / A pastoral fable" : Republicanism, liberalism, and the Swiss myth -- Comparative republicanisms: The Swiss myth in eighteenth-century Britain -- Revising republicanism: Revolutionary-period travel writing on Switzerland -- Switzerland no more: 1798 and the Romantic imagination -- Switzerland in miniature: Wordsworth's "visionary mountain republic" -- Restoration republicanism: The Swiss myth after 1815 -- Coda: John Ruskin's Switzerland Summary "The first detailed treatment of Switzerland in British literature and culture from Joseph Addison to John Ruskin, this book analyzes the aesthetic and political uses of what is commonly called the 'Swiss myth' in the parallel development of Romanticism and liberalism. The myth merged the country's legends going back to the Middle Ages with the Enlightenment image of a happy, free nation of alpine shepherds. Its unique combination of conservative, progressive, and radical associations enabled writers before the French Revolution to call for democratic reforms, whereas those coming after could refigure it as a conservative alternative to French liberté. Integrating intellectual history with literary studies, and addressing a wide range of Romantic-period texts and authors, among them Byron, the Shelleys, Hemans, Scott, Coleridge, and, above all, Wordsworth, the book argues that the myth contributed to the liberal idea of the people as a sublime yet sleeping sovereign"-- Provided by publisher Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Patrick Vincent is Professor of English and American literature at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland Print version record Subject English literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism English literature -- 18th century -- History and criticism Romanticism -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century Romanticism -- Great Britain -- History -- 18th century Republicanism -- Great Britain -- History Liberalism -- Great Britain -- History Political culture -- Switzerland National characteristics, Swiss. English literature Liberalism Literature National characteristics, Swiss Political culture Public opinion, British Republicanism Romanticism SUBJECT Switzerland -- In literature Switzerland -- Foreign public opinion, British Subject Great Britain Switzerland Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc. History Form Electronic book ISBN 9781009210317 1009210319

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