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Austen’s Messy Men

Masculinity, Courtship, and Chesterfield

Austen’s Messy Men cover

Austen’s Messy Men

Masculinity, Courtship, and Chesterfield

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Pre-order. Available 04 Feb 2027
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Description

Offering careful, insightful, and close readings through the lens of contemporary masculinity studies, this study explores Austen's male heroes and rivals and reveal what makes them so fascinating.

Using standards of manly etiquette defined in Lord Chesterfield's Letters to His Son, Kit Kincade argues that Austen's heroes struggle, and frequently fail, to meet the benchmarks prescribed by society. Yet, it is this clash of standards versus application that renders all of her men more realistic in portrayal than any previous novelist. Austen is commenting, though through these characters, on society's rules for and about class and masculine identity, and the difficulties inherent in achieving these goals.

Kincade combines sociological and Marxist approaches to define the figure of the "gentleman" through masculinity studies and perceptions of social class. Using this combination of filters, Austen's male characters can be seen as faithful portrayals of men who struggle, and often fail, at fulfilling all of the requirements of the polite English gentlemen. Yet it is these flawed human characters who fascinate and engage readers' attention.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Henry Tilney: Mock Gothic, Mock Courtship, Serious Masculinity
2. Colonel Brandon and Mundane Gothic Masculinity
3. Edward Ferrars, the Man without Rival
4. Fitzwilliam Darcy; or, the Education of Prince Charming
5. Edmund Bertram's Mis-calibrated Masculinity
6. George Knightley and the Image of the English Gentleman
7. Captain Frederick Wentworth and Versions of English Gentry Masculinity
Works Cited

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 04 Feb 2027
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Pages 240
ISBN 9798216451501
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions 229 x 152 mm
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

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