Neo-Victorianism, Empathy and Reading

The empathic reader is a participant-observer who is aware of the role they are invited to play when responding to fiction. This book examines the ethics of the text-reader relationship in neo-Victorian literature, focusing on the role played by empathy. It argues that such literature pushes the reader to critically reflect upon their reading expectations and strategies, as well as their wider ethical responsibilities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the captivating realm of literary analysis, J. Brooks Boustan sheds light on the enigmatic concept of the "empathetic reader." This reader, akin to a participant-observer, embarks on a transformative journey through the pages of a text, simultaneously experiencing the disruptive and unsettling responses that characters and narratives elicit. Moreover, they become acutely aware of the profound invitation they receive to engage meaningfully with the fiction they encounter. Drawing upon the profound insights of esteemed scholars such as Margaret Atwood, Julian Barnes, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Sarah Waters, Michael Cox, and Jane Harris, this groundbreaking book delves into the intricate ethics of the text-reader relationship within the neo-Victorian literary landscape. With a keen focus on the role of empathy in this engagement, Muren Zhang unveils neo-Victorian literature as a genre characterized by its audacious experimentation with "empathetic narrative."

Organized into captivating themes such as voyeurism, shame, nausea, space, and place, Neo-Victorianism, Empathy, and Reading takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of the genre. It challenges readers to critically reevaluate their reading expectations, strategies, and broader ethical responsibilities. By doing so, Zhang breathes new life into the ongoing debates surrounding neo-Victorian literature, offering fresh perspectives and innovative ways of reading and appreciating these contemporary texts. This book serves as a compass, guiding readers toward a future-oriented, reparative, and politically significant approach to engaging with neo-Victorian literature and culture.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350297203