Revisiting the past: nostalgic postmodernism in British literature

Abstract

There are more than five hundred novels published during the Victorian era still many British postmodernist writers recreate the Victorian setting, theme and characters in their works. The Victorian Era without a doubt is one of the most important and glories era of the British history. Even, now the novels of the Victorian age is considered as masterpieces. Even though there are over 500 novels published during this era, many contemporary British writers choose Victorian theme and style to compose fiction. The plots of these novels often take place in the nineteenth century or shift between nineteenth and twentieth century. On one side, where the Victorians were celebrated for their glorious achievements on the other hand, they were criticised for their double standards. Prostitution, child labor, racism, class discrimination everything increased during the Victorian era. One of the reason behind British postmodernist writers particular interest in Victorians can be linked with their fascination with past. Although going back to the past for inspiration is not new in literature. However, there can be two reasons behind going back to the Victorian era. One is the British postmodernists are trying to rectify the past errors, fighting against the prejudice and ideologies of that time. Such as social hierarchy, nationalism, bourgeois hypocrisy, racial and sexual prejudices. On the other hand, they want to achieve the success of the golden era. It was during the Victorian era when novels became so popular. The characters, themes and devices of the 19th century are still considered as masterpiece. In order to figure that out, one need to look back at how history is represented in literature. Sadia 2 The purpose of this thesis is to explore why British postmodernist writers go back to the Victorian era for their work. Further I will analyze, by going back to the 19th century are they paying tribute to the Victorians or mock them. For this I have chosen two contemporary British novels, A.S Byatts Possession and John Fowle’s,The French Lieutenants Woman. The thesis seeks to investigate the features of historiographic metafiction found in these books. Therefore, this proposal shall proceed in two major parts. The first part will analyse why the British postmodernist writers are particularly interested in Victorian era. The second part will be focused on the major texts that I will rely on throughout my work.