Transatlantic Renaissances Literature of Ireland and the American South [Paperback]

While Artuso is clearly well-versed in the literature and criticism of both Ireland and the South, her most rewarding discussions emphasize the Irish presence and influence in the US. Artusos writing is sharp and enjoyable, and her pairings of subjects, texts, and authors work in unexpected and interesting ways. In the end, Artuso thoughtfully claims that 'the advent of interest in diasporic, postcolonial, and transatlantic studies holds exciting promise for the future of transnationalism, a movement which continually reminds us that a desire for world culture is not nostalgic but nascent, not dying but already reborn'. Ultimately, readers are left with a satisfying yet open-ended introduction to the intricate relationship between seemingly unrelated cultures and this introduction invites continued exploration.Artuso covers an incredible amount of ground in framing her argument. . . .Artusos text is a valuable addition to the diverse and growing body of critical work in transnational southern studies, not only for its careful excavation of the shared origins of the Irish and Southern Renaissances but in its gesturing toward the work still to be done in exploring routes of cultural exchange between locations and movements too often considered in isolation.Tracing the transatlantic influence of the Irish Revival upon the Southern Renaissance, this work explores how the latter looked to the former for guidance, artistic innovation, and models for self-invention and regional renovation. Artuso investigates the renaissance trope of female rebirth, as the revivalists often figured cultural, national, or regional regeneration through the metamorphoses and maturation of female protagonists such as Cathleen n? Houlihan, Scarlett OHara, and Virgie Rainey.The impulses that fired the Southern Literary Renaissance echoed the impetus behind the Irish Literary Revival at the turn of the twentieth century, when Ireland sought to demonstrate its cultural equality with any EuroplãX