Description
From dreams of Prince Charming or dashing military heroes, to the lure of dark strangers and vampire lovers; from rock stars and rebels to soulmates, dependable family types, or simply good companions, female fantasies about men tell us a great deal about the history of women. In Heartthrobs, Carol Dyhouse draws upon literature, cinema, and popular romance to show how the changing cultural and economic position of women has shaped their dreams about men. When girls were supposed to be shrinking violets, passionate females risked being seen as 'unbridled', or dangerously out of control. Change came slowly, and young women remained trapped in a double-bind: you may have needed a husband in order to survive, but you had to avoid looking like a gold-digger. Show attraction too openly and you might be judged 'fast' and undesirable. Education and wage-earning brought independence and a widening of horizons for women. These new economic beings showed a sustained appetite for novel-reading, cinema-going, and the dancehall. They sighed over Rudolph Valentino's screen performances as tango-dancer or Arab tribesman and desert lover. Women may have been ridiculed for these obsessions, but, as consumers, they had new clout. This book reveals changing patterns of desire, and looks at men through the eyes of women.
About the Author
Carol Dyhouse is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Sussex. She has written extensively about the social history of women, gender, and education. Her recent publications include Glamour: Women, History, Feminism (Zed Books, 2011) and Girl Trouble: Panic and Progress in the History of Young Women (Zed Books, 2013). She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and in 2004 she was awarded an honorary D.Litt from the University of Winchester in recognition of her work on history and education.
Reviews
Dyhouse has crushed a lot of rich, entertaining material into this book, a tight jostle of regency rakes and daring sheikhs, boy bands and Brontes. * Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times *
... this is a book that invites argument, and which romps along at an appropriately breathless pace. * Claire Armitstead, The Guardian *
A cultural history of idealised men constructed by the female gaze, it takes us on a tour of pop stars, film stars and literary romantic heroes. * Caroline Criado-Perez, The Observer *
An even-tempered book that raises lots of fascinating questions. * Roger Lewis, The Mail on Sunday *
[A] terrific book. * The Daily Mail *
A cultural history of desire that pulls off the rare trick of being both capacious and concise. * The Wall Street Journal *
Dyhouse has a fresh and mischievous style. * Julie Burchill, The New Statesman *
A grand tour of female-created fantasies about ... men can never be a dull ride - and Dyhouse presents the reader with some titillating examples. * The Times Literary Supplement *
Dyhouse is insightful, jargon-free and witty. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *
It is at once scholarly, humorous and utterly gripping. * Juanita Coulson, The Lady *
[A] lively and enjoyable survey of a strangely neglected subject. * Choice Magazine *
A very wonderful, interesting, captivating book. * Anna Maria Polidori, Al Femminile *
Fascinating, entertaining book. * Rachael Popow, On: Yorkshire Magazine *
A rather celebratory study of heterosexual female desire that embraces its reactionary, as well as its progressive, aspects. * Lesley McDowell, The Herald *
Very informative. * Sonntagszeitung *
This is a well-researched, highly readable and intriguing book. * Cambridge Magazine *
... tremendously interesting and useful. Dyhouse combines impressive learning and research with a highly approachable style and a nice command of witty one-liners. * Shiny New Books *
There's a lot to consider here, and it's a book that I can't recommend highly enough. * Desperate Reader *
Packed with numerous cultural references which will spark your own memories and opinions, this this an entertaining and thought-provoking read. * There's a book for that *
A smart and sensitive look at its topic, this book provides thoughtful commentary on the driving forces behind women's imaginations and an intriguing if selective look at classic romantic figures. * Library Journal *
Carol Dyhouse writes about women's desire with her customary brio, delicious humour, and eclectic cultural references. * Helen Taylor, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter *
... the book ranges fluently across literature, film, music, and television. Heartthrobs is erudite, accessible, funny, and invaluable-a genuinely insightful, and enjoyable, work of cultural history. * Rachel Moseley, Professor of Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick *
Carol Dyhouse asks tough, scholarly questions about what-or rather who-makes female hearts beat faster. * Kathryn Hughes, Professor of Life Writing, University of East Anglia *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198828129
Author Carol Dyhouse
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 135mm * 22mm
About the Author
Carol Dyhouse is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Sussex. She has written extensively about the social history of women, gender, and education. Her recent publications include Glamour: Women, History, Feminism (Zed Books, 2011) and Girl Trouble: Panic and Progress in the History of Young Women (Zed Books, 2013). She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and in 2004 she was awarded an honorary D.Litt from the University of Winchester in recognition of her work on history and education.
Reviews
Dyhouse has crushed a lot of rich, entertaining material into this book, a tight jostle of regency rakes and daring sheikhs, boy bands and Brontes. * Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times *
... this is a book that invites argument, and which romps along at an appropriately breathless pace. * Claire Armitstead, The Guardian *
A cultural history of idealised men constructed by the female gaze, it takes us on a tour of pop stars, film stars and literary romantic heroes. * Caroline Criado-Perez, The Observer *
An even-tempered book that raises lots of fascinating questions. * Roger Lewis, The Mail on Sunday *
[A] terrific book. * The Daily Mail *
A cultural history of desire that pulls off the rare trick of being both capacious and concise. * The Wall Street Journal *
Dyhouse has a fresh and mischievous style. * Julie Burchill, The New Statesman *
A grand tour of female-created fantasies about ... men can never be a dull ride - and Dyhouse presents the reader with some titillating examples. * The Times Literary Supplement *
Dyhouse is insightful, jargon-free and witty. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *
It is at once scholarly, humorous and utterly gripping. * Juanita Coulson, The Lady *
[A] lively and enjoyable survey of a strangely neglected subject. * Choice Magazine *
A very wonderful, interesting, captivating book. * Anna Maria Polidori, Al Femminile *
Fascinating, entertaining book. * Rachael Popow, On: Yorkshire Magazine *
A rather celebratory study of heterosexual female desire that embraces its reactionary, as well as its progressive, aspects. * Lesley McDowell, The Herald *
Very informative. * Sonntagszeitung *
This is a well-researched, highly readable and intriguing book. * Cambridge Magazine *
... tremendously interesting and useful. Dyhouse combines impressive learning and research with a highly approachable style and a nice command of witty one-liners. * Shiny New Books *
There's a lot to consider here, and it's a book that I can't recommend highly enough. * Desperate Reader *
Packed with numerous cultural references which will spark your own memories and opinions, this this an entertaining and thought-provoking read. * There's a book for that *
A smart and sensitive look at its topic, this book provides thoughtful commentary on the driving forces behind women's imaginations and an intriguing if selective look at classic romantic figures. * Library Journal *
Carol Dyhouse writes about women's desire with her customary brio, delicious humour, and eclectic cultural references. * Helen Taylor, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter *
... the book ranges fluently across literature, film, music, and television. Heartthrobs is erudite, accessible, funny, and invaluable-a genuinely insightful, and enjoyable, work of cultural history. * Rachel Moseley, Professor of Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick *
Carol Dyhouse asks tough, scholarly questions about what-or rather who-makes female hearts beat faster. * Kathryn Hughes, Professor of Life Writing, University of East Anglia *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198828129
Author Carol Dyhouse
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 135mm * 22mm
