 | Bodies and Books: Reading and the Fantasy of Communion in Nineteenth-Century America Subjects: American literature -- 19th Century -- History and criticism; Intimacy (Psychology) in literature; Interpersonal relations in literature; Books and reading -- Psychological aspects; Books and reading -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Authors an; This book argues that the practice of reading in nineteenth-century America was rooted in fantasies of communion. In handling a book, the reader imagined touching and being touched by the people affiliated with that book's narrative world. This could lead to a therapeutic sense of oneness with an author, a reader, or the material book itself. Gillian Silverman is Associate Professor of English at the University of Colorado, Denver. |
