{"product_id":"nineteenth-century-literary-realism-through-the-looking-glass","title":"Nineteenth-Century Literary Realism: Through the Looking Glass","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review Katherine Kearns offers a focused reappraisal of \u003cstrong\u003enineteenth-century literary realism\u003c\/strong\u003e that will matter to scholars and informed readers. The book's chief claim - that realism's political commitment to social reform can conflict with its formal demands - is argued with clarity and provocative readings. This review finds the work most valuable for readers interested in literary theory and the tension between ideology and form, because Kearns not only reframes familiar realist texts but also reads certain borderline or fantastic works back into the realist tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal thesis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents a clear argument that realism's social aims often clash with its formal obligations, offering a new lens on canonical works.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical rigor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Applies careful critical analysis to show how ideological pressures shape narrative form and character representation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClose readings:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uses detailed textual analysis to justify reading some seemingly fantastic texts as realist, enriching interpretation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterdisciplinary reach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Connects literary history and political context to demonstrate how social reform agendas influence literary choices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArgument clarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Writes with a measured tone that keeps complex ideas accessible to graduate students and informed general readers alike.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is for graduate students, academics, and serious readers of \u003cstrong\u003eBritish and Irish literature\u003c\/strong\u003e who want a rigorous, theoretically informed rethinking of realism. It suits those researching novel form, narrative ethics, or the relationship between literature and social reform in the nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad cultural history or a survey of many authors without tight formal argument may want a different, more synthetic overview; similarly, casual readers of novels without interest in critical method may find the argument dense.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers a distinctive and defensible central thesis that reframes how realism is studied.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed close readings provide concrete textual support for theoretical claims.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBridges political context and formal analysis in a way useful for literary criticism courses.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe concentrated theoretical focus may feel dense for readers seeking a general narrative history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNineteenth-Century Literary Realism: Through the Looking Glass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKatherine Kearns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiterary criticism and theory of realism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConflict between social reform agendas and realist form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClose readings and theoretical argument\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegional emphasis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBritish \u0026amp; Irish nineteenth-century literature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor scholars and advanced students of literary studies, this book is a concise and provocative resource that repositions realism by highlighting its internal tensions; its precise argumentation and close readings make it strong value for anyone teaching or researching realist form and politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book argue that all realist texts fail politically?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe author argues there is a recurring tension between political aims and formal demands, not that realist texts universally fail; rather it examines how conflict shapes particular works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs prior theoretical knowledge required?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFamiliarity with literary theory and major nineteenth-century authors is helpful, as the book presumes some background in realism and critical methods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book include authors outside Britain and Ireland?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe focus is primarily on British and Irish nineteenth-century literature, using that regional context to explore wider theoretical implications.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Katherine Kearns","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48191792316635,"sku":"0521152720","price":53.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/7139HdE-VBL._SL1500.jpg?v=1769450041","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/nineteenth-century-literary-realism-through-the-looking-glass","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}