Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion

By Rosemary Jackson

Book Overview

This study argues against vague interpretations of fantasy as mere escapism and seeks to define it as a distinct kind of narrative. A general theoretical section introduces recent work on fantasy, notably Tzventan Todorov's The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre (1973). Dr Jackson, however, extends Todorov's ideas to include aspects of psychoanalytical theory. Seeing fantasy as primarily an expression of unconscious drives, she stresses the importance of the writings of Freud and subsequent theorists when analysing recurrent themes, such as doubling or multiplying selves, mirror images, metamorphosis and bodily disintegration. l Gothic fiction, classic Victorian fantasies, the 'fantastic realism' of Dickens and Dostoevsky, tales by Mary Shelley, James Hogg, E.T.A. Hoffmann, George Eliot, Henry James, Joseph Conrad, R.L. Stevenson, Franz Kafka, Mervyn Peake and Thomas Pynchon are among the texts covered. Through a reading of these frequently disquieting works, Dr Jackson moves towards a definition of fantasy expressing cultural unease. These issues are discussed in relation to a wide range of fantasies with varying images of desire and disenchantment.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138837121
• ISBN13: 9781138837126
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 224 Pages

Customer Reviews

Totally fantastic!

This is one of my favorite theory books, not too heavy handed and some really thoughtful work. I just loved it, espically Dr. Jackson's ideas about the Faust and Frankenstien legands. Anyone who's looking for something to start with regarding the fantasy and horror genres should really pick this one up. It's really great!