Rereading the Revolution: The Turn-of-the-century American Revolutionary War NovelApproximately fifty historical novels dealing with the American Revolution were published in the United States from 1896 to 1906. Benjamin S. Lawson critically examines the narrative strategies employed in these works and the ways in which fiction is made to serve the purpose of vivifying national history. Writing within the conventions of the historical romance, these authors created plots that reflect the enveloping concerns of the War for Independence, such as the young American woman who often must choose between suitors on opposite sides in the wider conflict. Lawson concludes that these works reassured readers of the worth of an Anglo-American heritage. They were escapist fantasies to the degree that they failed to confront contemporary realities of crisis and change: the New Immigration, urbanization and industrialization, labor strife, the plight of the poor, and agitation on behalf of women and ethnic minorities. |
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Page 31
... marry furnishes whatever suspense the plot possesses . Who will change ? Will John's career in the adventure plot take him emotionally or intellectually away from an unreconstructed Joyce too far for him to be reintegrated into the love ...
... marry furnishes whatever suspense the plot possesses . Who will change ? Will John's career in the adventure plot take him emotionally or intellectually away from an unreconstructed Joyce too far for him to be reintegrated into the love ...
Page 85
... marry a mere ser- vant . Hints abound , nevertheless , that behind the facade is a " gentle- man . " He feels , for example , that common British soldiers are greater plunderers than officers are . When the disclosure is made that he is ...
... marry a mere ser- vant . Hints abound , nevertheless , that behind the facade is a " gentle- man . " He feels , for example , that common British soldiers are greater plunderers than officers are . When the disclosure is made that he is ...
Page 135
... marry the young namesake of Dick Ringgold and by his comment that she reminds him of " the Tory maid . " Never is there an intimation that Jean Gordon has converted . For the novel's plot her Toryism simply becomes irrelevant after the ...
... marry the young namesake of Dick Ringgold and by his comment that she reminds him of " the Tory maid . " Never is there an intimation that Jean Gordon has converted . For the novel's plot her Toryism simply becomes irrelevant after the ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
New England | 27 |
A Revolutionary LoveStory | 35 |
Copyright | |
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Alice Allen Ameri American Revolution American Revolutionary War Anglo-American aristocratic Armand battle Battle of Oriskany becomes Benedict Arnold Betty Boston British British soldiers brother Butler Captain Cardigan Carus century Civil Cliveden Colonel colonial Constance cultural declares Dick duel earlier Elizabeth Elsin enemy England escape Ethel fact father feels Felice fight finds Frances Frank French Frisby genre George girl Havard Henry hero heroine historical fiction historical novel historical romance honor Hubbard Hugh independence Indian John Paul John Paul Jones Jones Joscelyn king Lady Claremont land later literary lovers Margaret marriage marry Mary military mother narrative Native American nonetheless novelist past patriot Peggy Peyton Philadelphia plot political Polly present prison rebel returns Revolution Revolutionary War novels Richard Robert Roger seems ship social Sotheran Southern story tells texts tion Tory tradition troops uncle Valley Forge Washington West woman writing York