This book investigates the complex and often fraught representations of embodiment within English fiction from the early 18th century through the early 19th century. Drawing on a range of literary texts, Napier examines how authors like Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, and Shelley grappled with the physical, social, and philosophical dimensions of the human body. The work argues that these authors frequently depicted the body as a site of struggle, constraint, and transformation, reflecting broader cultural anxieties about identity, materiality, and the self.

This scholarly work is recognized for its in-depth analysis of literary representations of the body during a pivotal period in English literature. It is likely to be of interest to academics and students specializing in literary criticism, the history of the novel, and studies of embodiment. The book's detailed textual analysis and engagement with philosophical concepts suggest a rigorous academic approach.