Routledge Hope and Aesthetic Utility in Modernist Literature

Explore a new perspective on twentieth-century literature with Hope and Aesthetic Utility in Modernist Literature. While modernism is often studied through negative emotions, this Routledge publication shifts the focus toward positive forms of feeling. The text argues that modernist thought contains a deep confidence in the future, rooted in the social power of art. This book examines a wide range of canonical writers to find a shared optimism. By studying the works of figures such as Henry James, D.W. Griffith, H.D., Melvin Tolson, and Samuel Beckett, the text identifies how art serves a functional role in shaping social outlooks. It is an essential resource for students and scholars interested in the intersection of aesthetics and social belief during the modernist era.