Material Ambitions: Self-Help and Victorian Literature by Rebecca Richardson (review).

Published In: Biography: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly, 2023, v. 46, n. 2. P. 450 1 of 3
Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3
Authored By: Brooks-Ward, Issy 3 of 3

Abstract

Rebecca Richardson's book, "Material Ambitions: Self-Help and Victorian Literature," explores how ambition was portrayed in nineteenth-century works of fiction and nonfiction. Richardson examines how authors such as Harriet Martineau, Dinah Craik, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Anthony Trollope addressed the ambivalence surrounding ambition. She also analyzes the impact of self-help discourse on the literature of colonial settlers in Australia. Richardson's study highlights the role of ambition as a narrative mode and explores the connection between physical health and the pursuit of success. The book offers new insights into Victorian biography and the ways in which authors incorporated their own ideals of improvement into their fictional works. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

Source:Biography: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly. 2023/04, Vol. 46, Issue 2, p450
Document Type:Article
Subject Area:History
Publication Date:2023
ISSN:0162-4962
DOI:10.1353/bio.2023.a928394
Accession Number:177594840
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