Critical Studies Research Group

 

The next work-in-progress presentation will take place this Tuesday (22nd Oct). Dr. Vicky Margree will deliver a paper entitled “The Feminist Orientation of E. Nesbit’s Short Gothic Fiction. Vicky has provided two of Nesbit’s short stories that may be of interest (although her paper won’t presume knowledge of the stories). They can be found here and here.

The presentation will explore the critical contention that the supernatural story of the long 19th century provided women writers with ‘a public discourse for voicing feminine concerns’ (Vanessa Dickerson). I will focus on the case of Edith Nesbit, who, although famed as a children’s author, also wrote extensively for adults. Nesbit presents an interesting case study because of the ambivalence she evinced about the women’s movement. In many respects resembling the New Woman of the late-Victorian / Edwardian periods, she nonetheless refused to support the campaign for women’s suffrage. I will suggest that exploring the paradox of Nesbit’s position can lead to a more nuanced understanding of Victorian feminism and anti-feminism. My main argument, however, will be that a) that there is in fact a distinct feminist orientation in evidence in Nesbit’s short Gothic fiction, and that b) that this is the case suggests something interesting about the genre of the short supernatural story, both in respect of the possibilities presented by a departure from realism, and the possibilities presented by the very brevity of the form.

As always, the presentation will be hold in room 303 of Pavilion Parade (1-2pm).