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Partial portraits

First published 2006 · 461 pages

A contemplative and scholarly exploration of 19th-century literary minds and the evolving art of modern fiction.

What it feels like

Stepping into this collection of essays and addresses feels like entering a quiet, wood-paneled study dedicated to the rigorous examination of literary craft. The reading experience is leisurely and deeply intellectual, asking the reader to slow down and engage with measured, 19th-century critical thought. Rather than a narrative journey, it offers a cerebral exploration of modern literature, focusing heavily on the history and criticism of fiction. The atmosphere is studious and reflective, colored by the analytical lens applied to prominent figures like Alphonse Daudet and Guy de Maupassant. It is a text that will thoroughly delight scholars of literary history and anyone who finds deep satisfaction in the formal, historical critique of the written word.

Mood
  • contemplative
  • intellectual
  • studious
Tone
  • analytical
  • reflective
  • scholarly
  • measured
Pace
leisurely
Themes
literary criticism · the art of fiction · 19th-century literary history · artistic evaluation
The writing
Formal, measured, and deeply analytical, reflecting the rhetorical traditions of 19th-century essays and lectures.
The arc
A steady, cerebral progression through the nuances of literary craft and historical critique.
Who it's for
Scholars of 19th-century literature and readers who delight in rigorous, historical literary criticism.

About the book

Master microform held by: LrI.

Microfiche. Chicago, Ill.: Library Resources, 1970. 1 microfiche; 8 x 13 cm. (Library of American civilization; LAC 16807).

Description from Open Library.

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