Women Musicians in Victorian Fiction, 1860-1900: Representations of Music, Science and Gender in the Leisured Home

Description

Over the first half of the nineteenth century, writers like Austen and Brontë confined their critiques to satirical portrayals of women musicians. Later, however, a marked shift occurred with the introduction of musical female characters where were positively to be feared. First published in 2000, this book examines the reasons for this shift in representations of female musicians in Victorian fiction from 1860-1900. Focusing on changing gender roles, musical practices and the framing of both of these scientific discourses, the book explores how fictional notions of female musicians diverged from actual trends in music making. This book will be of interest to those studying nineteenth century literature and music. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Original Title Original Copyright Contents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1 Musical Women in England, 1860-1900 2 Harmony and Discord in the Self: Music, Mesmerism and Mental Science 3 Female Power in Sensation Fiction 4 Dissonance and Fugue in The Mystery of Edwin Drood 5 George Eliot: Melody, Evolution and Aesthetics 6 Recapitulation and Natural Selection in The Mill on the Floss 7 Sexual Selection and Music: Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda Conclusion: Trilby Appendix A: Source Readings Appendix B: Glossary of Musical Terms Bibliography Index