Synopses & Reviews
Is ventriloquism just for dummies? What is at stake in neo-Victorian fiction's desire to "talk back" to the nineteenth century? This book explores the sexual politics of dialogues between the nineteenth century and contemporary fiction, offering a new insight into the concept of ventriloquism as a textual and metatextual theme in literature.
Review
"Definitions of neo-Victorianism within a theoretical space of performativity frequently fall into a conceptual trap which recycles the motifs of Judith Butler in an uncritical fashion. Helen Davies's book admirably challenges this position by revitalising the trope of ventriloquism in neo-Victorian fiction and criticism. This is a lively, provocative and engaging book that makes a stimulating contribution to the field. Davies's own scholarly voice is confident, articulate and alive, and her self-reflective comments on the position of the critic as reader make important points for future researchers." - Mark Llewellyn, John Anderson Research Chair in English, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
Synopsis
Global contributors discuss the theoretical controversies concerning the merits and demerits of affirmative action, and explain why affirmative action is needed in multiethnic countries. They analyze actual experience with affirmative action policies - their origin, nature and consequences - in nine countries.
About the Author
HELEN DAVIES is an associate lecturer in English Literature at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. She has published articles on neo-Victorianism, contemporary women's writing and Oscar Wilde. She is currently on the executive committee of the Contemporary Women's Writing Association and is the associate editor on neo-Victorian literature and criticism for The Oscholars journal.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Victorians for dummies? Talking back to the nineteenth centuryVoices from the Past: Rethinking the Ventriloquial MetaphorVictorian Ventriloquists: Henry James and George Du MaurierSirens and Svengalis: Nights at the Circus, Alias Grace and ClaraQueering the dummy/ventriloquist dichotomy: Oscar Wilde and ventriloquial influenceSexual re-scripting: Ventriloquial repetitions and transformations in Sarah Waters' Tipping the Velvet and AffinityTalking to ourselves? Ventriloquial criticism and readership in neo-Victorian fictionAfterword: Voices beyond the Victorian era? Wesley Stace and ventriloquismNotes Bibliography
Index