Myth and National Identity in Nineteenth-Century Britain: The Legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood [Hardcover]

Stephanie Barczewski (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019820728X | ISBN-13: 978-0198207283 | Publication Date: April 6, 2000

Scholars continue to find that fictional narratives provide rich insight into the historical development of a modern national consciousness. In nineteenth-century Britain, the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood played an important role in construction of contemporary national identity. These two legends provide important windows on British culture and draw from very different perspectives. King Arthur and Robin Hood have traditionally been diametrically opposed in their ideological orientation, with Arthur at the pinnacle of the social and political hierarchy and Robin Hood completely outside conventional hierarchical structures. The fact that two such different figures could simultaneously function as British national heroes suggests that nineteenth-century British nationalism did not represent a single set of values and ideas, but rather that it was forced to assimilate a variety of competing points of view.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`interesting and fresh treatment of the uses of the Robin Hood myth and in its thoughtful comparisons between the two.' Journal of Modern History, vol.73, no.3

`this work's extensive use of literary sources, even very "uncanonical" ones, valuably introduces a broad range of hitherto-ignored sources and affords greater access to the cultural work done by imaginative writing, however humble its literary merits.' Journal of Modern History, vol.73, no.3

`provides a practical framework for thinking about other King Arthur and Robin Hood reworkings.' Clare A. Simmons, Wordsworth Circle

`an impressive range of sources, both primary and secondary, to display how the images of King Arthur and Robin Hood are evoked in response to British concerns, and how they move from Britishness to Englishness.' Clare A.Simmons, Wordsworth Circle

`The pairing of the dichotomous figures of Arthur and Robin Hood is an ingenious and fruitful basis for Stephanie Barczewski's wide-ranging survey of national identity in nineteenth-century thought.' Carolyne Larrington, Times Literary Supplement, Friday 16th March 2001.

`Barczewski is most successful in historical contextualization, and in linking the legends with the broader issues of race, identity, and nationalism ... strong treatment of the history of ideas ... wide-ranging survey of national identity in nineteenth-century thought.' Carolyne Larrington, TLS

`loaded with learning and yet sparkling with life' V. G. Kiernan, EHR

`Interesting and informative.' A.F. Erlebach, CHOICE Nov. 2000, Vol.38, No.3.

`Professor Barczewski's erudite yet immensely readable book ... is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the rise of English nationalism and the subjugation of Celtic culture.' Brendan McMahon, The Cornish Banner Aug 2000, No.101.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019820728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0198207283
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,712,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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