Mary Robinson and the Genesis of Romanticism: Literary Dialogues and Debts, 17841821 [Paperback]

First coming to prominence as an actress and scandalous celebrity, Mary Robinson created an identity for herself as a Romantic poet and novelist in the 1790s. Through a series of literary dialogues with established writers, Robinson put herself at the center of Romantic literary culture as observer, participant, and creator. Cross argues that Robinsons dialogues shaped the nature of Romantic writing both in content and form and influenced second-generation Romantics. These dialogues further establish the idea of Romantic discourse as essentially interactive and conversational, not the work of original geniuses working in isolation, and positions Robinson as a central player in its genesis.

Introduction: Robinsons Romantic Dialogues

 Prelude: Sweet Converse : Della Cruscan Dialogues

1. Harping on Lyrical Exchange: Samuel Coleridge

2. Illegitimate Influences: Charlotte Smith

3. The Morning Post Aesthetic: Robert Southey

4. Walsingham, Caleb Williams and Queer Panic: William Godwin 

5. Vindicating the Writing Woman: Mary Wollstonecraft 

6. From Lyrical Ballads to Lyrical Tales: William Wordsworth

7. Resurrecting Robinson: Charlotte

8. Sick of the same bruise : John Keats

Originally an actress and scandalous celebrity, Mary Robinson created an identity for herself as a poet and novelist of the Romantic school. Cross argues that Robinsons dialogues shaped the nature of Romantic verse and went on to influence second-generation Romantics such as Christina Rossetti and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Ashley Cross is Professor of English at Manhattan College, USA.

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