Mountaineering and British Romanticism: The Literary Cultures of Climbing, 1770-1836
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Cover -- Mountaineering And British Romanticism: The Literary Cultures Of Climbing 1770-1836 -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- List Of Illustrations -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- The Creation Of 'mountaineering' And The Transformation Of The 'mountaineer' -- Romantic Mountaineers -- Relocating The Origins Of British Mountaineering -- On 'romanticism' And 'mountaineering' -- 1: 'the Traveller Of Taste,... The Naturalist, And The Antiquary': The Evolution Of Romantic-period Mountaineering In Britain -- Scientific Mountaineering Scientific Mountaineering In The Alps -- The Antiquarian Mountaineer: Thomas Pennant -- 'the Traveller Of Taste': Mountain Climbing On The Picturesque Tour -- 2: 'curiosity', 'dangerous Adventure', And 'the Perilous Point Of Honour': Three Case Studies In The Invention Of Mountaineering -- Joseph Budworth, 'curious' Climber -- Reverend William Bingley's 'dangerous Adventure' -- John Macculloch And Mountaineering 'achievement' -- 3: From 'vast Extended Prospect 'to 'the Spectacle Of Nature': Wordsworth, Keats, And The Aesthetics Of Elevated Viewing -- Climbing In Search Of The Elevated 'prospect' 'a New Scene Of Astonishment': The Shock Of The View -- 'the Most Sublime Prospect To Be Met With': Encountering The Mountain Top Sublime -- Witnessing 'the Spectacle Of Nature' -- 'a Gratification Of No Common Kind': The Aesthetics Of 'the Veiling Atmosphere' -- 4: 'master[s] Of The Prospect'?: Wordsworth, Keats, And The Revelations Of Elevation -- Mountain Ascent As The Prelude And 'prologue' To The Literary Life -- Bird's-eye Views And Cloud Stations: New Ways Of Seeing In The Mountains -- 'placed... On A Pinnacle Of The World': The Elevated Climber And The World Below 'like A Map': Elevation And The Transformation Of Landscape And Viewer -- 'transported Into A New State Of Existence': Climbing Towards Transcendence -- 'upon The Top Of Nevis': Keats And The Negative Sublime -- 'enough Of Climbing Toil!': Wordsworth's
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the intersection of early mountaineering practices and the development of Romantic-period literary aesthetics between 1770 and 1836. Simon Bainbridge, a professor of Romantic studies, utilizes historical travelogues, poetry, and scientific journals to argue that the cultural construction of the 'mountaineer' was fundamentally shaped by the era's evolving attitudes toward nature, scientific inquiry, and the sublime. By examining the transition from the 'picturesque' traveler to the adventurous climber, the text demonstrates how mountain ascent became a central metaphor for the literary and intellectual aspirations of the period.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the evolution of mountain climbing from antiquarian and scientific pursuits to recreational adventure.
- Detailed examination of the works of William Wordsworth and John Keats regarding mountain aesthetics.
- Historical context on the 'picturesque' tour and the emergence of the 'sublime' in British landscape appreciation.
- Case studies of early climbers such as Joseph Budworth and William Bingley.
Scope Limits
- The study focuses specifically on the British cultural context and does not provide an exhaustive history of global mountaineering techniques.
- The analysis concludes at 1836, excluding the later 'Golden Age' of Victorian alpinism.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars in the field of Romanticism frequently cite this work for its rigorous archival research and its ability to bridge the gap between environmental history and literary analysis. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those interested in the cultural origins of modern mountain climbing.
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
0192599755
ISBN-13:
9780192599759
History
British literature
Romanticism
English literature
19th Century
Indigenous
In literature
Literary Criticism
Poetry
Mountaineering