Victorian Legs
Degeneracy, Disability, Decorum, Desire
Published on 2. September 2025
350 pages
978-1-5261-8894-6 (ISBN)
Description
Victorian legs is about the science (sometimes spurious) and sexuality (often frivolous) of legs during the Victorian period. The book argues that legs occupy a particularly vexed position in Victorian culture. Strong legs formed the foundation (or the columns) of the civilized subject, but the politics of who could show their legs remained gendered. For the most part, men exhibited and admired, while women concealed and demurred. This book not only joins and advances the lively critical discourse on the Victorian body, but also marks new paths to pursue. While legs made us human, they could also dehumanize. -- .
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Illustrations
23 black and white illustrations
File size
5,07 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-5261-8894-6 (9781526188946)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2025
Manchester University Press
€127.10
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Clayton Carlyle Tarr is Assistant Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte -- .
Content
Introduction: Bifurcated beings
Part I: Degeneracy-Backpedaling
1 Atrophy in The Time Machine
2 Atavism in Heart of Darkness
Part II: Disability-Cane and able
3 Prosthesis in Our Mutual Friend
4 Posthuman in The Law and the Lady
Part III: Decorum-Right ankles
5 Form in Barchester Towers
6 Reform in Armadale
Part IV: Desire-Calf worship
7 Muscle in Barnaby Rudge
8 Masculinity in King Solomon's Mines
Conclusion: See legs
Index -- .
Part I: Degeneracy-Backpedaling
1 Atrophy in The Time Machine
2 Atavism in Heart of Darkness
Part II: Disability-Cane and able
3 Prosthesis in Our Mutual Friend
4 Posthuman in The Law and the Lady
Part III: Decorum-Right ankles
5 Form in Barchester Towers
6 Reform in Armadale
Part IV: Desire-Calf worship
7 Muscle in Barnaby Rudge
8 Masculinity in King Solomon's Mines
Conclusion: See legs
Index -- .
