E-Book Overview
Ecocriticism is the emerging academic field which explores nature writing and ecological themes in all literature. Thomas M. Wilson’s book is the first to consider the work of one of the most critically acclaimed and generally popular post-war English writers from an ecocritical perspective. Fowles is best known as a novelist and author of such works as The Magus, The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Daniel Martin. Going beyond the fiction, this book also examines the many profound reflections on the natural world found in his essays, poems and his recently published Journals. John Fowles’ writings have cast light on the ways we percieve the natural world, from curious scientific observer to Wordsworthian lover of natural places, as well as many other important and, at this time, crucial themes. This volume will be of interest to critics and readers of contemporary fiction, but most of all, to anyone curious about their place in the recurrent green universe that is our earth. Contents: Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Individuals: Sacred Combes and Islands Chapter 2: Our Membership in the Community of Nature Chapter 3: Pastoral: Down from the Hills of Greece, into the Combes of Devon Chapter 4: Nature Loved and Lost: Emotional Dynamics in Daniel Martin Chapter 5: Nature Discovered: The Scientific Outlook Chapter 6: Calmly, Nobly Triumphant: The Mystery of Wilderness Chapter 7: Science Not the Only Avenue: Fowles’ Anti-Positivism Chapter 8: Romanticism Heals a Blinded Eye: Poetic Receptivity to Nature Chapter 9: Treacherous Namers and Collectors Chapter 10: Being, Being, Being: From Zen to D. H. Lawrence Conclusions Bibliography Index
E-Book Content
THE RECURRENT GREEN UNIVERSE OF JOHN FOWLES Nature, Culture and Literature 01 General Editors: Hubert van den Berg (University of Groningen) Axel Goodbody (University of Bath) Marcel Wissenburg (University of Nijmegen) Advisory Board: Jonathan Bate (University of Warwick) Hartmut Böhme (Humboldt University, Berlin) Heinrich Detering (University of Kiel) Andrew Dobson (Open University) Marius de Geus (Leiden University) Terry Gifford (University of Leeds) Demetri Kantarelis (Assumption College, Worcester MA) Richard Kerridge (Bath Spa University College) Michiel Korthals (Wageningen University) Svend Erik Larsen (University of Aarhus) Patrick Murphy (University of Central Florida) Kate Rigby (Monash University) Avner de-Shalit (Hebrew University Jerusalem) Piers Stephens (University of Liverpool) Nina Witoszek (University of Oslo) THE RECURRENT GREEN UNIVERSE OF JOHN FOWLES Thomas M. Wilson Amsterdam - New York, NY 2006 Cover Photo: 50396135 (RM) John Fowles, 1 Feb 1970; photographer: Terrence Spencer; Time & Life Pictures, Getty Images. Cover Design: Erick de Jong The paper on which this book is printed meets the requirements of “ISO 9706:1994, Information and documentation - Paper for documents Requirements for permanence”. ISBN-10: 90-420-1989-1 ISBN-13: 978-90-420-1989-8 ©Editions Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam - New York, NY 2006 Printed in the Netherlands Contents: Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 9 Chapter 1: Individuals: Sacred Combes and Islands 23 Chapter 2: Our Membership in the Community of Nature 43 Chapter 3: Pastoral: Down from the Hills of Greece, into the Combes of Devon 67 Chapter 4: Nature Loved and Lost: Emotional Dynamics in Daniel Martin 103 Chapter 5: Nature Discovered: The Scientific Outlook 131 Chapter 6: Calmly, Nobly Triumphant: The Mystery of Wilderness 153 Chapter 7: Science Not the Only Avenue: Fowles’ AntiPositivism 171 Chapter 8: Romanticism Heals a Blinded Eye: Poetic Receptivity to Nature 187 Chapter 9: Treacherous Name