Mania for freedom : American literatures of enthusiasm from the Revolution to the Civil War /

In this study of literature in antebellum America, John Mac Kilgore argues that a distinct rhetorical tradition of enthusiasm emerged as a form of political dissent. This was literature written to confront normative values, to respond to critical injustice and to incite revolt, if not broad change....

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Kilgore, John Mac (Author)
Format:	Book
Language:	English
Published:	Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, [2016]
Subjects:	Enthusiasm in literature. Protest literature, American > History and criticism. American literature > Revolutionary period, 1775-1783 > History and criticism. American literature > 1783-1850 > History and criticism. American literature > 19th century > History and criticism.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Enthusiasm, event, literature
An answer to the question: "What is enthusiasm?"
Rites of dissent: literatures of enthusiasm and the American Revolution
Shaking hands with the prophet: the War of 1812 and Native American enthusiasms
The revival of revolt: conjure, slave insurrection, and the novel of enthusiasm
The free state of Whitman: John Brown, the Civil War, and the dis-memberment of enthusiasm in the 1860 Leaves of grass
Epilogue: the tramp and strike question: terminal enthusiasms.