The Origins of the Individualist Self

Autobiography and Self-Identity in England, 1591 - 1791

Nonfiction, History, Modern, 18th Century
Cover of the book The Origins of the Individualist Self by Michael Mascuch, Wiley
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Michael Mascuch ISBN: 9780745667737
Publisher: Wiley Publication: June 28, 2013
Imprint: Polity Language: English
Author: Michael Mascuch
ISBN: 9780745667737
Publisher: Wiley
Publication: June 28, 2013
Imprint: Polity
Language: English

This book traces the emergence of the concept of self-identity in modern Western culture, as it was both reflected in and advanced by the development of autobiographical practice in early modern England. It offers a fresh and illuminating appraisal of the nature of autobiographical narrative in general and of the early modern forms of biography, diary and autobiography in particular. The result is a significant and original contribution to the history of individualism.

Michael Mascuch argues that the definitive characteristic of individualist self-identity is the personal capacity to produce a unified retrospective autobiographical narrative, and he stresses that this capacity was first demonstrated in England during the last decade of the eighteenth century. He examines the long-term process of innovation in written discourse leading up to this event, from the first use of blank almanacs and common place books by the pious in the late sixteenth century, through the popular criminal biographies of the late seventeenth century, to the printed-for-the-author scandalous memoirs of the mid-eighteenth century.

While offering a detailed account of a significant period in the rise of a modern literary genre, Origins of the Individualist Self also addresses topics which are central in the fields of literary and cultural theory and social and cultural history.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book traces the emergence of the concept of self-identity in modern Western culture, as it was both reflected in and advanced by the development of autobiographical practice in early modern England. It offers a fresh and illuminating appraisal of the nature of autobiographical narrative in general and of the early modern forms of biography, diary and autobiography in particular. The result is a significant and original contribution to the history of individualism.

Michael Mascuch argues that the definitive characteristic of individualist self-identity is the personal capacity to produce a unified retrospective autobiographical narrative, and he stresses that this capacity was first demonstrated in England during the last decade of the eighteenth century. He examines the long-term process of innovation in written discourse leading up to this event, from the first use of blank almanacs and common place books by the pious in the late sixteenth century, through the popular criminal biographies of the late seventeenth century, to the printed-for-the-author scandalous memoirs of the mid-eighteenth century.

While offering a detailed account of a significant period in the rise of a modern literary genre, Origins of the Individualist Self also addresses topics which are central in the fields of literary and cultural theory and social and cultural history.

More books from Wiley

Cover of the book Commodity Chains and World Cities by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Emotion Recognition by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Performance Management For Dummies by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Panel Data Analysis using EViews by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Brief by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book What Everyone Needs to Know about Tax by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Acute Medical Emergencies by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Chemie für Technische Assistenten in der Medizin und in der Biologie by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Turtles and Tortoises For Dummies by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Synthesis by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Residential Interior Design by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Restoring Civil Societies by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Wittgenstein by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Nonparametric Statistics by Michael Mascuch
Cover of the book Your Anxious Child by Michael Mascuch
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy