Robert Montgomery Bird

Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Robert Montgomery Bird's 'Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself' deftly satirizes early American society with a sharp literary blade. The narrative, cloaked as autobiography, showcases Bird's intricate exploration of identity and materialism during a formative period in US history. Through the protagonist's chimeric journey-literally hopping from one life into another in search of contentment-Bird reveals the multifaceted nature of the elusive American Dream. The story's picaresque structure and mordant wit position it as a distinctive piece of literary art, dissecting the idea that everything, from vice to virtue, can be commodified in a nascent capitalist culture. Bird, a novelist and playwright active in the 19th century, was preoccupied with the evolving American identity. The extraordinary element of body transfer in 'Sheppard Lee' can be seen as a metaphoric device born from Bird's keen observation of and engagement with the shifting values of his contemporaries. This theme, reflected in the book's content, conveys a nation's collective soul-searching amidst rapid societal changes. Bird's personal experiences and his acute awareness of social dynamics thus informed the novel's creation, pioneering the genre of American satire. Deserving of scholarly attention and modern readership, 'Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself' comes as a recommendation to enthusiasts of American literature and history. Its perceptive reflections on human aspiration and critique of commodification remain pertinent today. Readers will not only find entertainment in Lee's episodic misadventures but also gain an enriched understanding of the complexities of early American society and its ongoing conversation with the philosophies of personal success and moral values in an increasingly transactional world.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: DigiCat
• Seitenzahl: 459
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. November 2023
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 8596547729051
• Artikelnr.: 69360989

Autorenporträt

Robert Montgomery Bird (1806-1854) was a multi-faceted American writer, dramatist, and novelist known for his contributions to American literature in the early 19th century. Born in New Castle, Delaware, he initially pursued a career in medicine after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1827, but his passion for writing soon took precedence. Bird's literary style is characterized by its embrace of the American Gothic tradition and its examination of the human condition through a unique blend of satire, humor, and social critique. His novel 'Sheppard Lee, Written by Himself' (1836) is perhaps Bird's most recognized work. This satirical narrative follows its eponymous protagonist through a series of extraordinary body-swapping adventures that reflect on the era's culture and ethics. The novel's innovative use of the first-person perspective and its exploration of identity and reincarnation were ahead of its time, presenting a precursor to many modern literary techniques. Bird's work often highlighted the complexities of American society-including issues of identity, class, and the supernatural-placing him as a noteworthy figure in the antebellum literary scene. Despite his passing at an early age, Robert Montgomery Bird's influence is enduring, with scholars continuing to study his nuanced depictions of American life and contributions to the development of the American novel.