Reading the Body in the Eighteenth-Century Novel

Delve into the fascinating intersections of health, expression, and literature with "Reading the Body in the Eighteenth-Century Novel" by J. McMaster. Published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2004, this insightful paperback features 194 pages that unravel how medical discourses and theories of physiognomy influenced the literature of the 18th century. McMaster artfully engages with timeless classics such as Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa" and Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy," alongside the works of esteemed authors like Fanny Burney, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Jane Austen. Readers will uncover how gestures and facial expressions offer deeper understanding and enrich our appreciation of these novels, providing a contemporary lens on historical texts. Ideal for scholars and literary enthusiasts alike, this book invites you to explore the body as a canvas of narrative in the world of early modern fiction.