Journalistic and historical perspectives on 19th century insane asylums

This article from The Atlantic today looks at medical monograph on “Types of Insanity.” In addition to the kinds of proofs of insanity that Dr. Wycherley and others give in Hard Cash, we have this gem: In some cases we have but little

The Voysey Inheritance

While reading Hard Cash, I was reminded of the Granville-Barker play, The Voysey Inheritance. Although written over 40 years after Hard Cash was published, the play deals with the same issues of financial ruin, the family, and encroaching insanity. In

Charles Reade archive visit: framing your research questions

What it would mean to develop an argument about Reade’s research as an autonomous practice, perhaps with an aesthetics or purpose if its own? The Barthes and Ngai may help with theorizing Reade’s research as an important practice of its own separate from his novels.

Charles Reade archive visit: theoretical and critical readings

Here’s the promised post framing our readings on Charles Reade, the novel of research, aesthetics of research, and ideas about note-taking in preparation for both our seminar meeting (which will take place during our trip) and our related visit to