The novel of adultery is a nineteenth-century form about the experience of women, produced almost exclusively by men. Bill Overton's study is the first to address the gender implications of this form, and the first to write its history. The opening chapter defines the terms 'adultery' and 'novel of adultery', and discusses how the form arose in Continental Europe, but failed to appear in Britain. Successive chapters deal with its development in France, and with examples from Russia, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Centers on a priest's seduction of a young and innocent girl, Amelia--a candid indictment of moral and social decadence, of a corrupt society ministered to by a smug and hypocritical clergyman--a moving story of human passion and human fallibility.

A fascinating and innovative introduction to the best works of fiction from the last 500 years. Simply constructed, the book explores 60 key novels from The Tale of Genji to My Brilliant Friend. In addition to enjoyable descriptions of the novels and concise explanations of why they are important, the book illuminates the most significant writing genres, themes and techniques. Accessible and fun to read, with a foreword by Professor Peter Boxall, this pocket guide will give readers a new way to enjoy their favourite books - and to discover new ones.

This book is presented to scholars with a broad interest in modern languages and literatures. It contains articles written in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The topics rangein time from the Middle Ages to our day; geographically, from Europe and Africa to Latin America; in substance, from literary analysis to the study of manuscripts, stylistics, and the use of acronyms. The authors were given complete freedom to write papers on subjects of their choice, in their respective fields of specialization. The indis treatment, and a pensable ingredients were originality of material or genuine contribution to knowledge in the general area of modern languages and literatures. While responsibility for content rests with individual authors, we deeply appreciate the counsels of wisdom and experience given by Pro fessor Nicolae Iliescu of Harvard University; Professor Rene J asinski, emeritus, of Harvard; Professor Luis A. Murillo, of the University of California at Berkeley; Professor Erich Von Richthofen, of the Uni versity of Toronto. These distinguished scholars, with their usual kindness, interrupted their own work to read portians of the manuscript of particular interest to them. To the Administration of Boston College, we acknowledge a debt of gratitude for the generaus subsidy which encouraged this labor of love among colleagues and helped to bring the project to a successful, printed completion.

European Intertexts is the first fruit of an ongoing collaborative study aiming to challenge the isolationism of much critical work on English literature by exploring the interdependence of English and continental European literatures in writing by women. While later volumes will deal with specific texts, this introductory volume provides a descriptive framework and a theoretical basis for studies in the field. Covering issues such as the role of English as a world language, the definition of 'Europe', and the current state of Translation Studies, the book also surveys theories of intertextuality and demonstrates intertextual links between written and visual and film texts. This book is itself pioneering in making a systematic approach to women's writings in English in the context of other European cultures. Although Europe is a political reality, this cultural interpenetration remains largely unexamined, and these essays represent an important first step towards revealing that unexplored richness.

Two basic processes—industrialization and the emergence of the nation-state—have marked the evolution of many modern societies, particularly in Western Europe. Industrialization broadened the class structure of societies. With the new classes came demands for political power and influence, demands that were vigorously resisted by the ruling monarchies and landowning aristocracies. And with these demands came upheaval and, eventually, new forms of democratic social and political organization. In Portugal’s transition from absolutist monarchy to pluralist democracy can be found an example of these transformative processes at work. Yet the experience of this nation has been largely neglected in discussions of Western European politics. With Portugal: From Monarchy to Pluralist Democracy, Walter C. Opello, Jr., brings the transformation of Portugal into sharp focus and, in doing so, offers interesting insights into the problems of forming a democratic regime. This profile traces Portugal’s transition to democracy within the broader context of its historical development as a nation-state, documenting the effects of absolutism, imperialism, centralization, class and regional cleavages, and late industrialization on the Portuguese people, their polity, economy, and society. Exploring the themes that have shaped the development of Portugal’s democratic structures, Professor Opello also assesses the future viability of these structures in light of the country’s nondemocratic legacies.