Consumerism and American Girls' Literature, 1860}}}1940 [Hardcover]

This book examines how women fictionalised for the girl reader ways of achieving a powerful social and cultural presence.Why did the figure of 'the girl' come to dominate the American imagination from the middle of the nineteenth century into the twentieth? In Consumerism and American Girls' Literature, Peter Stoneley looks at how women fictionalised for the girl reader ways of achieving a powerful social and cultural presence. Covering a wide range of works and writers, this book will be of interest to cultural and literary scholars alike.Why did the figure of 'the girl' come to dominate the American imagination from the middle of the nineteenth century into the twentieth? In Consumerism and American Girls' Literature, Peter Stoneley looks at how women fictionalised for the girl reader ways of achieving a powerful social and cultural presence. Covering a wide range of works and writers, this book will be of interest to cultural and literary scholars alike.Why did the figure of the girl come to dominate the American imagination from the middle of the nineteenth century into the twentieth? Peter Stoneley looks at how women were fictionalized for the girl reader as ways of achieving a powerful social and cultural presence. Covering a wide range of works and writers, this book is of interest to cultural and literary scholars.List of illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction: 'buying into womanhood'; Part I. Emergence: 1. The fate of modesty; 2. Magazines and money; 3. Dramas of exclusion; Part II. Fulfillment: 4. Romantic speculations; 5. Preparing for leisure; 6. Serial pleasures; Part III. Revision: 7. The clean and the dirty; 8. 'Black Tuesday'; Conclusion; Notes; Index. [A] thoughtful study of how the image of the girl was used in late 19th and earul 20th century American culture.... Stoneley's thoughts on girls and consumerism are noteworthy. Choice A worthwhile and useful exploration of an important subject. American Historical Review Peter Stoneley's lƒÁ