Literary critics often pursue analyses of music or painting and literature as 'sister arts', yet this was the first full-length study of the treatment of social dance in literature. A vital part of social life and courtship with its own symbolism, dance in the nineteenth century was a natural point of interest for novelists writing about these topics; and indeed ballroom scenes could themselves be used to further courtship narratives or illustrate other significant encounters. Including analyses of works by Jane Austen, W. M. Thackeray, George Eliot and Anthony Trollope, as well as extensive material from nineteenth-century dance manuals, Cheryl A. Wilson shows how dance provided a vehicle through which writers could convey social commentary and cultural critique on issues such as gender, social mobility and nationalism.

This book explores how dance provided a vehicle through which nineteenth-century writers could convey social commentary and social critique.

About the Author
Cheryl A. Wilson is Assistant Professor in the English Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Reviews
Review of the hardback: '... I am pleased to recommend this book to many readers. Victorian scholars, cultural critics, and even lay people who wish to learn more about the importance of dance in nineteenth-century culture.' Review 19



Book Information
ISBN 9780521519090
Author Cheryl A. Wilson
Format Hardback
Page Count 220
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 500g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 158mm * 16mm