Walter Scott and Contemporary Theory [Hardcover]

A bestselling author in his own time and long after, Sir Walter Scott was not only a writer of thrilling tales of romance and adventure but also an insightful historical thinker and literary craftsman. Over the last two decades, scholars have come to see him as an important figure in Romantic-period literature, Scottish literature and the development of the historical novel.

Walter Scott and Contemporary Theorybuilds on this renewed appreciation of Scott's importance by viewing his most significant novels - fromWaverleyandRob RoytoIvanhoe,Redgauntlet,and beyond - through the lens of contemporary critical theory. By juxtaposing pairings of Scott's early and later novels with major contemporary theoretical concepts and the work of such thinkers as Alain Badiou, Judith Butler, Jacques Derrida and Slavoj ??i??ek, this book uses theory to illuminate the complexities of Scott's fictions, while simultaneously using Scott's fictions to explain and explore the state of contemporary theory.

Evan Gottlieb is Associate Professor of English at Oregon State University, USA.

Acknowledgments \ Introduction: Everything you always wanted to know about Scott but were afraid to ask Contemporary Theory (and vice versa) \ Chapter 1. Subjectivity, orWaverleyandIvanhoewith ??i??ek \ Chapter 2. Historicity, orThe AntiquaryandRedgauntletwith Koselleck and DeLanda \ Chapter 3. Hybridity and Performativity, orRob RoyandThe Talismanwith Bhabha and Butler \ Chapter 4.Governmentality, orThe Heart of Mid-LothianandQuentin Durwardwith Foucault and Agamben \ Chapter 5. Hospitality and Community, orThe Bride of LammermoorandChronicles of the Canongatewith Derrida, Habermas, and a Multitude of Theorists \ Conclusion: Posthuman Scott? \ Bibliography \ Index

Introduces key concepts in contemporary literary theory to explore the major novels of Sir Walter Scott.