Politics of Gender in Anthony Trollope's Novels

Bringing together established critics and exciting new voices, The Politics of Gender in Anthony Trollope's Novels offers original readings of Trollope that recognize and repay his importance as source material for scholars working in diverse fields of literary and cultural studies. As the editors observe in their provocative introduction, Trollope more than any of his contemporaries is studied by scholars from disciplines outside literary studies. The contributors here draw together work from economics, colonialism and ethnicity, gender studies, new historicism, liberalism, legal studies, and politics that convincingly argues for the eminence of Trollope's writings as a vehicle for the theoretical explorations of Victorian culture that currently predominate. The essays variously examine imperial and postcolonial themes in the context of economic, cultural, aesthetic, and demographic influences; show how gender-sensitive readings expose Trollope's critique of capitalism's influence; address Trollope and sexuality in the context of queer studies, the law, archetypal constructions, and classical feminism; and offer new approaches to narrative theory through examination of Victorian understandings of male and female psychology. Regenia Gagnier's concluding chapter revisits the collection's critical strands and reflects on the implications for future studies of Trollope.

'This is an important collection that makes a valuable contribution to scholarship on Anthony Trollope, on gender issues, and on fiction generally. One of the most striking features of this wonderful and admirably organized volume is its unpredictability, as it departs from expected arguments and even from expected subjects. Would that all essay collections were this fine.' James R. Kincaid, University of Southern California, USA ’Fine examples of contemporary scholarship...this collection makes one want to read Trollope’s novels anew...Highly recommended.’ Choice ’This is a fine collection of essays on Trollope "for the Twenty-First Century." It should not only enlighten students of Trollope but also interest students of gender theory and of the Victorian novel. Anyone reading it cannot but deduce that Trollope studies flourish in the new century.’ New Books on Literature '... [an] important contribution to Victorian studies...' Victorian Studies 'This is an attractive volume, enlivened with illustrations from Trollope’s novels and other sources. The readings are fresh and imaginative.' European Legacy

Margaret Markwick is an Honorary Fellow in the School of English at the University of Exeter, UK; Deborah Denenholz Morse is Professor of English at the College of William and Mary, USA; and Regenia Gagnier is Professor of English, director of the Centre for Victorian Studies, Director of the Migrations Research Network, and Senior Fellow at the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society (Egenis) at the University of Exeter, UK