Literature and Revolution: British Responses to the Paris Commune of 1871

During the closing decades of the nineteenth century, the Parisian Communards fought for a revolutionary alternative to the status quo, grounded in internationalism, radical democracy, and economic justice. This book examines how a heterogeneous group of authors in Britain responded to the Commune, providing the first full-length critical study of its reception and representation. Many writers responded with literary strategies to stabilize bourgeois subjectivity in the wake of the revolutionary event.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Between March and May 1871, the Parisian Communards engaged in a fierce battle for a revolutionary alternative to the prevailing status quo, rooted in a vision of internationalism, radical democracy, and economic justice for the working masses, transcending national boundaries. The eventual downfall and brutal suppression of the Commune left a profound impact that resonated far beyond the city of Paris. In Britain, the Commune sparked widespread and vehement condemnation, while its supporters formed a small but vocal minority. The Commune's seizure of power raised concerns about the continental "spectre of revolution," particularly as it offered an embryonic alternative to the bourgeois social order. This book delves into the response of a diverse group of authors in Britain to the Commune. By examining their reactions, it offers the first comprehensive critical study of the reception and representation of the Commune in Britain during the closing decades of the nineteenth century. The book demonstrates how discussions of the Commune served as a platform for projecting both hope and fear, acting as a warning for some and an inspiration for others. The writers considered in this book include renowned figures such as John Ruskin, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Eliza Lynn Linton, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Anne Thackeray Ritchie, Margaret Oliphant, George Gissing, Henry James, William Morris, Alfred Austin, and H.G. Wells. As the book reveals, many of these authors responded to the Commune with literary strategies aimed at stabilizing bourgeois subjectivity in the aftermath of the traumatic shock of a revolutionary event.

The book extends our critical understanding of the Communes cultural legacies and explores the intricate relationship between literature and revolution. It sheds light on the ways in which the Commune influenced the artistic and intellectual landscape of the time, shaping the narratives and themes of literature in the years to come. Through its comprehensive analysis, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between revolution, literature, and the shaping of societal norms and values.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978821934