In our globalizing, post-colonial world, Comparative Literature is on the rise; but it is not new. It emerged in the nineteenth century as a countermovement to methodological nationalism in the philologies. The chequered history of its acceptance in the British Isles throws a fascinating light on the last two centuries, amid many intellectual cross-currents: the British politics of the 'Four Nations', Imperial ethnography, and the complex relationship between literary critics and the university.
Leerssen addresses both the intellectual and the institutional aspects of this history of knowledge production. The example of Continental scholarship, and of champions like Matthew Arnold, gave the comparatist approaches increasing prestige; but it became an established academic discipline only in the internationalist climate after 1945. Since then, that discipline has been both challenged and enriched by new theoretical approaches and by the decline of Eurocentrism.
Joep Leerssen holds the chair of Modern European Literature at the University of Amsterdam. Among his books are Remembrance and Imagination (1996), National Thought in Europe (2006), Imagology and The Rhine (with Manfred Beller, 2007 and 2018), and Commemorating Writers in Nineteenth-Century Europe (with Ann Rigney, 2014). He is the editor of the Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe (2018).
Reviews:
‘This is a study of the rare kind of which it can truthfully be said that it is definitive: the description fits Leerssen’s book perfectly. To those still living who launched comparative literature in the new universities some 50 years ago it will come as a happy reminder of an exciting time of innovation and change which they were fortunate to have been part of. To those of a later generation it will reveal that what happened in the 1960s did not emerge from nowhere: a long and honourable history, ably explored by Professor Leerssen, led up to it.’ — John Fletcher, Journal of European Studies 50.3, 2020, 302-321 (full text online)
‘The publication of [this book] is welcome news... The entire section on the nineteenth century is a treasure house of insights into cross-national and comparative ways of approaching knowledge... This is, all in all, a book to be heartily recommended for a wide variety of readers interested in comparative studies in the humanities and social sciences, while being of particular interest to those wishing to understand the evolution of literary and cultural studies.’ — Barnita Bagchi, History of Humanities Fall 2020, 554-56
Contents:
i-vi
Comparative Literature in Britain: Comparative Literature in Britain Joep Leerssen
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Comparative Literature in Britain: Comparative Literature in Britain’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. i–vi
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Comparative Literature in Britain: Comparative Literature in Britain’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. i–vi, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Comparative Literature in Britain: Comparative Literature in Britain’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. i–vi
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Table of Contents’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. vii–viii
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Table of Contents’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. vii–viii, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Table of Contents’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. vii–viii
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘List of Illustrations’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. ix–x
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘List of Illustrations’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. ix–x, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘List of Illustrations’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. ix–x
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
L., J., ‘Acknowledgements’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. xi–xii
First footnote reference:35 J. L., ‘Acknowledgements’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. xi–xii, p. 21.
L., J.. 2019. ‘Acknowledgements’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. xi–xii
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (L. 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, introduction to , in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 1–6
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, introduction to , in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 1–6, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Introduction to , in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 1–6
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 1 Patterns (1800–1848)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 7–54
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 1 Patterns (1800–1848)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 7–54, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Chapter 1 Patterns (1800–1848)’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 7–54
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 2 Matthew Arnold (1848–1869)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 55–69
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 2 Matthew Arnold (1848–1869)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 55–69, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Chapter 2 Matthew Arnold (1848–1869)’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 55–69
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 3 Henry Buckle and H. M. Posnett (1857–1886)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 70–83
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 3 Henry Buckle and H. M. Posnett (1857–1886)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 70–83, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Chapter 3 Henry Buckle and H. M. Posnett (1857–1886)’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 70–83
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 4 Reviewers, Critics, Academics (1860–1914)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 84–108
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 4 Reviewers, Critics, Academics (1860–1914)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 84–108, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 5 Comparatist Trends Within Literary Studies (1914–1950)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 109–33
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 5 Comparatist Trends Within Literary Studies (1914–1950)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 109–33, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Chapter 5 Comparatist Trends Within Literary Studies (1914–1950)’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 109–33
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Chapter 6 Consolidation and Crises (1950–2000)’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 134–68
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Chapter 6 Consolidation and Crises (1950–2000)’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 134–68, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Chapter 6 Consolidation and Crises (1950–2000)’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 134–68
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Source References’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 169–80
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Source References’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 169–80, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Source References’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 169–80
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Appendix: A Chronological List of British Publications of Comparatist Interest, 1800–1975’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 181–251
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Appendix: A Chronological List of British Publications of Comparatist Interest, 1800–1975’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 181–251, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Appendix: A Chronological List of British Publications of Comparatist Interest, 1800–1975’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 181–251
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, ‘Index’, in Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 252–60
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, ‘Index’, in Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), pp. 252–60, p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. ‘Index’, in Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 252–60
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
Leerssen, Joep, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019)
First footnote reference:35 Joep Leerssen, Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2019), p. 21.
Leerssen, Joep. 2019. Comparative Literature in Britain: National Identities, Transnational Dynamics 1800-2000, Studies In Comparative Literature, 27 (Cambridge: Legenda)
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Leerssen 2019: 21).
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