The medical case study as a rhetorical form for nineteenth-century literature and art [and] The intimate circle, popular words, and collectible books of A. Edward Newton, early twentieth-century American rare bookcollector .

摘要

The rhetorical forms of nineteenth-century literature and art demonstrate a curious development of skepticism and paranoia concerning the reliability of the narrative voice. Developments in psychiatric medicine, particularly the legal and social demands for documentation of medical case histories and patient treatments, form the organic beginnings of traceable influence. The medical case study emerges as a rhetorical foundation upon which nineteenth-century fiction, poetry, and art are built. From literary beginnings in stories of insanity and its observers, a demand grew for reforming the field of treatment for the insane, and the effect of social demands are evident in literature of the day. Nineteenth-century examples of works that simulate the narrative effect of the medical case study are abundant. Gericault's artistic representations of the insane created portraits as a prescribed therapy for his own mental recovery from insanity. Stevenson explored the moral implications of insanity in the case study of Mr. Hyde's evil. Tennyson's narrator in "Maud" and his vocalization of the narrator's madness reflect cultural concerns over shifting boundaries of mental health. This interdisciplinary thesis explores nineteenth-century representations of the point at which genius and madness interact to create fiction, poetry, and art.; A biobibliography explores the life of an author through an examination of his writings. Because all authors are a product of their time, considering the interaction between their life and works enlightens an audience's understanding. Alfred Edward Newton, an early twentieth-century businessman, rare bookcollector, and popular personal essayist, believed that writing about the life, environs, and social interactions of an author could help him share his appreciation for fine literature with his readers. His place outside academia and his talent as an advertising writer situated him ideally for influencing the tastes and preferences of the reading public. Examining Newton's interactions with his circle of friends, the books he authored, and his rare book collections reveal a man of letters whose significance is widespread though largely unrecognized in academic writing. This thesis forms the foundation for a study of the life and works of this charming and intelligent writer who deserves renewed scholarly attention.