#LateVictorian

[whencyclopedia]

Notework: Victorian Literature and Nonlinear Style

This book is recommended to academics and university students interested in different approaches to fiction writing and the evaluation of literary works published in the late Victorian period and early 20th-century literary criticism. Simon Reader provides a novel approach to the creative writing process and analyses the periphery of fiction.

Victorian literature often presents the two matching pieces of the same artefact – expressed and implied. Naturally, any work of literature written in this period carries traces of the obscure and intertwined. In Notework, Simon Reader draws attention to this fragmented aspect in his investigation of notes, diaries and writings of Charles Darwin, George Gissing, Roland Barthes, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Oscar Wilde, and Vernon Lee. Having been motivated by Darwin’s concept of useless organs, Reader endeavours to understand the impact of these useless fragments on the published works by scrutinizing the disorganised aspect of writing and aims to reach beyond the limitations of form and genre in literature. This book is the most suitable for academics or university students interested in literary criticism or literary history.

Through problematising the literary approach of the New Criticism, Reader argues that close and minimalistic reading of any literary work perceives beauty only at the totality or within the bounds of the text, respectively, and disregards the value of the parts on their own. He illustrates how this approach would focus only on a narrow space of meaning. Instead of disregarding so-called useless texts, he employs them to peer through writers’ personal lives and writing processes. What Reader calls nonlinear style is the totality of personal expressions and textual interactions of these notes, diary entries and other affiliated fragments. However, not all fragments evolve into the parts of a whole or necessarily become related to the fictional product. In other words, they defy their own usefulness. Reader argues this moment as the point when we see fragmentary writing in its own elements. Ultimately, this book draws attention to the process of literary production and a deeper appreciation of a literary text.

In Part I, Reader analyses the nonlinear as a machinery of processing momentary ideas and aspirations. Darwin’s diary entries, for Reader, are instrumental in forming his ideas on evolution because they allow him to roam around natural forms and the environment without any specific aim or argument in need of evidence. This is also true for the novelist George Gissing, whose notes reveal a style of degree zero realism in writing that is free from the necessity of prescribed ends and motivations.

In Part II, the book investigates the nonlinear writing that accompanies the creation of literary work. For Hopkins, there exists an intangible relation between the animate and inanimate aspects of nature and through his notes and observations, the poet yearns to be a part of this vast collective being. Torn between his poetic aspirations and vocational commitments, Hopkins seems to have used the nonlinear style to achieve a congregation of fictional creators with the Christian god. In his study of Wilde’s notes, Reader sees a computer-like attitude for achieving a large flux of information and data.

Reader then steps into the domain of modernity and examines how nonlinear style can work outside the limitations of classical fiction writing. Part III uses the previous analysis of Darwin to examine Vernon Lee’s notes to show how Lee's nonlinear style is an expression of fluctuating aesthetic responses by relinquishing any pretence of genre and form in her career. True to the modernist statement on the possibility of presenting a coherent expression of life through subjective observations of the writer, Lee is in search of life scattered around through objects of triviality and recollection.

Reader, Associate Professor of English at College of Staten Island, the City University of New York, concludes his project in a Darwinian way by proposing the existence of fragmented writings of an author beyond and independently from the affiliated work of fiction. He also foresees the possibility of recovering the individual via contemporary documentation of social media interactions and the impressions recollected through that documentation.

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[rick-roller]

Ooh this reminds me- Albert Richardson, a lesser-known late 19th century philosopher, expounded upon Diogenes' idea of regressive civilizations. Richardson introduced the idea that marriage (or, any relationship between two persons) is a direct reflection of civilization itself. Sadly, he was widely discredited for his theory, one peer in particular calling it "redundant, a disgrace to any notion of the sacred commitment of matrimony". Richardson's works are available to read today through the Sarah Walles Philosophical Archives:

https://swpa.org/eras/latevictorian/rich.albert/normalcyinmatrimony

“Fall in love with the person who enjoys your madness, not an idiot who forces you to be normal.”

— Unknown

[latevictorian]

Douleur d'amour (detail), William Adolphe Bouguereau, 1899

[ilfiorenerocostumery]

Another one with the 1890s black outfit, this time by @leledigitalartist a couple of years ago! Different brooch here... So again not mourning but a fashionable black dress! @fantasy_portrature @themysterypr0ject @portraittogs #labelleepoque #historicalcostuming #ilfiorenero #historicalfashion #gildedage #1890sfashion #costuming #belleépoque #costumedesigner #littleblackdress #charlesworth #latevictorian #fantasy_portrature #themisterypr0ject #portraittogs #endlessfaces https://www.instagram.com/p/CSZ5KFAjGpP/?utm_medium=tumblr

[premierestategallery]

Antique 10k Gold Lavaliere Pendant c1900 with simulated Ruby $200 includes Priority Shipping to USA customers. Purchase on this post or visit us at www.bit.ly/AntiqueLavaliereRuby #antiques #antiquejewelry #jewelry #gold #Edwardian #LateVictorian #VictorianStyle #Monday #pendants #bride #somethingold #shopping #holidaygifts #lavaliere https://www.instagram.com/p/B35a8akgX4z/?igshid=zccyjvzzgeew

[genderlessqueerness]

Dr. Howe-Waffle House Medical Museum and Carriage House. Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is an 1889 Queen Anne style home in Santa Ana, California. It was the home of Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, one of the first female physicians in Orange County, California, until her death in 1924. #howewafflehouse #willellahowe #orangecounty #santaana #historicplace #latevictorian #santaanahistoricalpreservationsociety #queenannevictorian #history (at Dr. Howe-Waffle House-Medical Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt7KxktjIQ_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4ullqt2crz22

[hsama]

Do you like skateling? ⛸️ ❄️ ☆ I went skating with the @stlgeorgians 🥰 I am please to say I was able to start and finish this ensemble in record time. 🙌 ☆ it's definitely a personal record. Not perfect but I just need to add more trim and make a hat. I wore with a peineta and some feathers but sadly I lost it. 😞 ♥️ NEXT: Royal tea at the Ritz. Would you join me? ☕️ 🥐 @juanitapanico @thesewinggoatherd @fabricatinghistory @brazilianbaroness @littlebitgerman @gracies.fancy @historicthimble @sewstine @slightlyhistorical @seamracer @monaxmarie #stlgeorgians #latevictorian #stlmade #stl #costumedesigner #victorianiceskating #victoriansports #victorian #eravitoriana #costurahistorica #bipocreenactor #roupavitoriana #baronesabrasileira #brazilianbaroness (at Steinberg Ice Rink) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZrW6gguB9B/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lilyabsinthe]

There's a bit of pad stitching in my future! This is so different from my usual style, but I'm facing the music. Maybe it'll be my new favorite? Let's find out...the hat and shoes are waiting. . . #tailoring #wool #1898 #latevictorian #lamodeillustree #labelleepoque #belleepoque #artnouveau #lilyabsinthe #silk #newlook #frenchsuit (at Lily Absinthe Gowns & Corsetry) https://www.instagram.com/lilyabsinthe/p/CZDRlNXPMv_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thisrealtorrocks]

Remarkable late-victorian character home, 🧱 Circa 1850, conveniently located in a great downtown neighbourhood on a gorgeous, quiet and tree-lined 🌳 street. You will love living in the ❤️ of #niagara 👉🏼link in bio. . . . . #niagarahomesforsale #latevictorian #characterhome #justlisted #stcatharines #downtown #originalbrick #featurewall #firsttimebuyers #househunting #vintage #corbels #curbappeal #homeforsale #niagararealtors #tomandchristie (at St. Catharines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF2C7BwDJo9/?igshid=acgrpumi530m

[steve-two-phones-mackabee]

Managing to finally get over the hump with this piece. I hit a point when I've made a lot of progress on a piece and suddenly the old anxiety kicks in and I get irrationally worried about effing the whole thing up, especially if I know the next steps are going to be particularly challenging, and I knew adding the horse and carriage in the foreground was definitely going to be a challenge, especially since in my humble opinion, horses are the hardest animals to render in any medium. I'm half tempted to leave this guy in his half finished state as he looks kind of weird and ethereal, like if a horse had a baby with a jellyfish. #artistsonintagram #artistproblems #workinprogress #horse #carriage #latevictorian #earlyedwardian #tumblrmemes #canyouguess #lady #wip #sharewithgolden https://www.instagram.com/p/B43kifVF67q/?igshid=bahzsiea1krx

[cherish-york]

#inktober2017 Week Two: Vegetable Humans Day 13: The Broccoli Woman Here is the next interpretation of another vegetable. This is the Broccoli woman. l is my friend Stacey Doherty. I met her at Thought Bubble this year and she was very nice. Her dress is a late victorian dress with Broccoli everywhere. Broccoli tastes delicious. I love it. #インクトーバー2017年 週:野菜人間 13日:ブロコリ女 ここは別野菜解釈です。こちらはブロコリ女です。彼女は友だちドエーティ·ステージさんです。私は彼女がThoughtBubbleに行きました。彼女がとてもかっこいいです。 彼女のドレスは遅いヴィクトリアン時代からです。そして、それはブロコリ隈なくです。 ブロコリは美味しいです!本当に大好きです!

[00santoinette]

"So the cycle goes on, the snake eating its own tail." 🐍 _______________________ #latevictorian #pennydreadful #victorianfashion #victoriangothic #historicalsewing #costurahistorica https://www.instagram.com/p/B1HYxYEAo85/?igshid=1a8k14awvcbr0

[ladylillithcorsetry]

Today I finished off this blouse with hand worked button loops and some of the buttons from my big button haul. I'm excited to finally start wearing it! #ladylillithcostume #seamstress #dobbyspot #edwardian #latevictorian #inspired #blouse #vintage #ruffles #bristolcreative https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXKxUjl6wf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jft1q2rk2rq9

[latevictorian]

William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Whisperings of Love (detail) 1889.

[ilfiorenerocostumery]

@leledigitalartist painted me like a real Gibson Girl! Squee! #edwardian #gibsongirl #gibsongirls #camilleclifford #edwardianfashion #edwardianstyle #belleepoque #edwardianaesthetic #ilfiorenero #historicalcostuming #1900s #1900sfashion #latevictorian https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtH8MPACxR/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ginger-illustrations]

"Bright Beginnings" Here we have Blake, my OC, on her way to seek out adventure! I'm trying to upload weekly OC drawings and speedpaints, and hopefully I can stick to that schedule please do not repost or steal thank you. -C.L.W. #art #artist #digitalart #digital_art #firealpaca #oc #ocs #ocdrawing #victorianstyle #victorianera #latevictorian #originalcharacter #manga #mangaart #digitaldrawing #digitalpainting #firealpacaart https://www.instagram.com/p/BsbNpPLAQHt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kecdp1lbdr6o