Routledge Masculinities in British Adventure Fiction, 1880-1915 - Routledge

Explore the complex landscape of Victorian and Edwardian literature with Joseph A. Kestner's study of British adventure fiction. This scholarly work applies recent masculinity theories to examine how gender was constructed in popular and canonical stories between 1880 and 1915. Kestner analyzes how historical events, such as the First Boer War and the Zulu War, shaped the narratives of writers like H. Rider Haggard. The book investigates themes of initiation, rites of passage, and encounters with the non-Western Other within colonial contexts. By looking at sexual encounters and gender roles, this text provides a deep look into the social fabric of the era. The research covers a wide range of influential voices. It examines canonical authors including Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, R.L. Stevenson, and Olive Schreiner. Additionally, the study includes popular writers such as A.E.W. Mason, W.H. Hudson, and John Buchan. This comprehensive approach makes it a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in history, criticism, and children's literature studies.