The Nostalgic Imagination: History in English Criticism

Collini has long been interested in the role of intellectuals, and more particularly literary critics, British public life nineteenth twentieth centuries. But his latest book he examines tendentious—though not explicitly acknowledged—uses historical generalization a number twentieth-century critics Britain, beginning with T. S. Eliot, whose vague but pregnant pronouncement on “dissociation sensibility” since seventeenth century insinuated itself into critical discourse as if it were an incontestable fact. Apart from focuses mostly active 1930s through 1950s, “a time when . such occupied prominent place national culture than either before or since.” Cambridge is heavily represented among chosen critics: F. R. Leavis, Basil Willey, L. C. Knights, William Empson, Q. D. Richard Hoggart, Raymond Williams (whose Culture Society appeared 1958).The basic pattern that identifies narrative decline implied stated, let alone developed any detail, which various contemporary ills—utilitarianism (or something called that, anyway), triumph economic over cultural values, increasing social influence sciences, dissociation thought feeling expression literature, degradation taste—are treated manifestations radical transformation English society had begun after Elizabethan era accelerated eighteenth century. Since this narrative, assesses, justly, kind pastoral myth, was essentially instrument critique present, did demand to be substantiated: “moral confidence pessimism” its defining, mutually reinforcing, characteristics. The ease which, for example, Eliot's obiter dicta accepted truths, Willey's idiosyncratic Backgrounds seventeenth- eighteenth-century literature established themselves reliable textbooks, suggests underlying discontent modernity indeed widespread. In part, whom surveys, their versions what they “cultural history,” supplied want left unsatisfied by professional historians time.Collini's summary Knights's position applies essentials other discussed book: “The present able see period stretching early just particular phase, pathology, sickness possibility recovery now becoming visible.” Even ostensibly most resolutely ahistorical critic those surveyed, conforms extent: argues persuasively Some Versions Pastoral offered “an oblique history” class relations implicitly attributed mode Puritan hostility arts self-consciousness about differences. Of course, Empson's detestation Christianity outspoken profession it, insofar Empson “especially exercised appallingness Protestant Christianity,” too located fundamental worse England century.Williams may seem odd figure inclusion, given Marxist Long Revolution presented accounts. observes, neither conformed norms writing, much noticed historians, despite books’ broad reception. Moreover, like works analyzed, based very claim—about emergence modern concept culture—on thinnest evidence, case single highly ambiguous use word Wordsworth's Prelude. Though share Leavis's pessimism, (in passage quoted Collini) lamented predominance “mechanical ways thought, feeling, conjunction,” tended idealize preindustrial life.As concedes, sections figures Willey stars firmament have faded, are bit slog; chapter Leavis likely interesting (and especially Cambridge-educated) readers certain age, who can recall power 1950s 1960s. chapters Williams, contrast, compelling iconoclastic treatment continue widely read regarded. Although notes parallels between, Hoggart's rants against “directionless tamed helots machine-minding age” Matthew Arnold's denunciations middle-class philistinism, Collini's own perspective restricted, choice justifies postscript.Despite adjective nostalgic title, addresses phenomenon nostalgia explicitly. Yet reasonable ask whether practice appealing idealized, relatively distant past contrast to, means deploring, recent one attributes whatever objectionable generally characteristic history (whether identifying not). Not unlike analyzed Collini, Thomas Warton, History Poetry (1774–81) first extended English, regarded last fully accord political religious culture; time, notwithstanding greater rationality refinement, literarily enervated derivative. Certainly, coupling view criticism.