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In the aftermath of the revolutions in theory and criticism of the last several decades, this book offers a re-reading of the development of the nineteenth-century English novel by exploring the relation of the writer to the reader.

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Preliminary Reading Mary Barton : The Writer and the Reader Charles Dickens in America: The Writer in Reality Narrative and the Problem of Evil: The Writer and Mortality Toward a Conclusion

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"In this ambitious, wide-ranging study, Webb carefully considers both the nature of reading fiction and the difficulties in seeking to reread nineteenth-century works in the way that they were experienced by their original audience. The subjects discussed include the prevalence of religious belief in this earlier period, the problems that writers faced in trying to depict the unprecedented circumstances of urban life, and the manner in which narrative form was used as a guide to meaning. Focusing on six representative texts, Webb offers new, stimulating insights as he forcefully maintains that rereading the past can bring excitement, joy, and significance." - Stanley Friedman, Co-Editor, Dickens Studies Annual

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IGOR WEBB, Professor of English, Adelphi University, USA.

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