Hannah More in Context

This book relocates the long life and literary career of the poet, playwright, novelist, philanthropist and teacher Hannah More (1745-1833) in the wider social and cultural contexts that shaped her, and which she helped shape in turn. One of the most influential writers and campaigners of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, More’s reputation has suffered unfairly from accusations of paternalism and provincialism, and misunderstandings of her sincerely-held but now increasingly unfamiliar evangelical beliefs. Now, in this book, readers can explore a range of essays rooted in up-to-the-minute research which examines newly-recovered archival materials and other evidence in order to present the fullest picture yet of this complex and compelling author, and the era she helped mould with her words.

Introduction: Hannah More in Context Kerri Andrews and Sue Edney Tongues in Trees: Hannah More and the Nature Inscription Robin Jarvis Feeling Good: Sentimental Virtue in Hannah More’s The Search After Happiness (1773) and "Sensibility" (1782) Rose Hilton Defending "Reason’s rein": Rationalism as Persuasive Strategy in Hannah More’s Slavery: A Poem (1788) Adam Bridgen Writing Women at Work Maeve Adams "Hunger is not a postponable want": Hannah More’s charity reconsidered Kerri Andrews Hannah More’s Percy, A Tragedy, in the Spanish and French Theatrical Contexts Begoña Lasa Álvarez The Bluestocking and the Preacher: the Bifurcated Reception of Hannah More in Scandinavia Marie Nedregotten Sørbø Hannah More’s Sympathetic Strategies: Coelebs in Search of a Wife and the Evangelical Novel Nicky Lloyd Books and Readers in Hannah More’s Coelebs in Search of a Wife Joanna Maciulewicz Hannah More Rediscoveries: Letters, Literary Manuscripts, and Inscribed Books Nicholas D. Smith Bringing More to the Fore: Championing the life and work of Hannah More in Schools and Community Education Joanne Edwards Hannah More’s Energetic Sociality: Enthusiasms and Consequences Patricia A. Demers An Extended Sermon on Hannah More Rev Paula Hollingsworth

Kerri Andrews is Reader in Women’s Literature and Textual Editing at Edge Hill University. Sue Edney is a Lecturer teaching at Bristol University. .