Claude Rawson Books

The persuasion of "Persuasion" is the persuasion of Anne Elliot by a family friend that the young man that she is in love with is an inappropriate match for her. Instead of following her heart Anne follows the advice of the family friend and lets her love go. Seven years passes and Anne, who is still alone, finds a second opportunity for true love when the man returns from sea. "Persuasion," Jane Austen's last completed novel, is the story of lost love and an older woman's chance to recapture the love that she thought was hopelessly lost.

.0000000000Jonathan Swift's masterpiece is the finest satire in the English language. Lemuel Gulliver's adventures with the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput and the giants of Brobdingnag are familiar from modern abridged adaptations, but the scientists and philosophers of Laputa, the intelligent, horselike Houyhnhnms and the bestial Yahoos provide further opportunities for Swift to satirise society in a manner just as relevant today as it was in the eighteenth century.lllustrated by by Arthur Rackham, with an Afterword by Henry Hitchings.

The book offers a critical examination of the terms 'neo-classic' and 'Augustan' as they relate to eighteenth-century literature, providing fresh insights and reappraisals of these concepts. Additionally, it reflects on the evolving trends in academic study of the subject over the past twenty years, making it a valuable resource for scholars interested in literary analysis and historical context.

The book delves into the disruptive influences affecting the literary landscape of the Augustan period, with a particular focus on Henry Fielding's work. It analyzes how Fielding's writings reflect and respond to the cultural and civilizational challenges of his time, providing insights into the complexities of Augustan ideals under pressure. Through this exploration, the author highlights the interplay between literature and the societal forces at play during the era.