Romantic Literary Families [Hardcover]

The late eighteenth century witnessed the emergence of the literary family: a collaborative kinship network of family and friends that, by the end of the century, displayed characteristics of a nascent corporation. This book examines different models of collaboration within English literary families during the period 1760-1820. Beginning with the sibling model of Anna Barbauld and John Aikin, and concluding with the intergenerational model presented by the Godwins and the Shelleys, this study traces the conflict and cooperation that developed within and among literary families as they sought to leave their legacies on the English world of letters.Collaborative Dissent: Anna Barbauld and the Aikin School Walking 'Backwards and Forwards': The Wordsworths in 1802/1807 Incorporating the Literary Family Collaborative Co-Addicts Competing Houses The Godwins, the Shelleys, and the Genius Familiae

Krawczyk makes a compelling case for the need to expand our thinking about the family into the variety of literary, personal, and business relationships such sociological interactions can encompass. In tracing the very human relationships both on and beyond the pages, Krawczyk's study expands our understanding of the circles of authors through the period - Keats-Shelley Journal

This is a thoughtful, measured, and persuasive book - a real contribution to our understanding of Romantic creativity. Scott Krawczyk's analysis not only taps into recent critical interest in sociable networks and collaborative productions; it also offers new insights into the literary family as the 'predominant mediating network for Romantic collaboration.' - NBOL-19

Elegant and erudite, Krawczyk's Romantic Literary Families is an exciting addition to the field of kinship studies. Through its readings of consanguineal, conjugal, and incorporated family groups, Romantic Literary Families convincingly marries literary criticism and socio-literary history; the l“é