Description
Book SynopsisExamines the writings of D.H. Lawrence, a British writer whose literature focused primarily on interpersonal relationships in domestic settings, and Eileen Chang, a Chinese writer who migrated to the US and explored Chinese heterosexual love in her writing.
Trade Review“With suggestive pairings of novels by two famous literary authors who are seldom considered together, Sijia Yao invites us to think comparatively on the topic of love across different cultures. By juxtaposing love with cosmopolitanism, her sensitive readings underscore both their transformative potential and inexhaustible appeal.”—Rey Chow, Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Duke University “
Cosmopolitan Love introduces a new way to understand how D. H. Lawrence and Eileen Chang (best-known for
Lust,
Caution) reconceived love as the basis for social and political transformation. In demonstrating the fascinating affinity between the two writers, Sijia Yao emphasizes the cross-cultural nature of their achievement.
Cosmopolitan Love is notable for its compelling theoretical foundation and insightful close readings.”—Keith Cushman, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and recipient of the Harry T. Moore Award for Lifetime Contributions to D. H. Lawrence Studies “This book articulates love not only as essential to modern society but also as transcending of parochial and national boundaries. Sijia Yao offers an insightful reading of Eileen Chang and D. H. Lawrence in pursuit of cosmopolitan sensibility.”—Ban Wang, William Haas Professor of Chinese Studies and Professor of Comparative Literature, Stanford University, author of
At Home in Nature: Technology, Labor, and Critical EcologyTable of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter One: Incest Prohibition and Cosmopolitanism
- Chapter Two: Sexual Love as Public Defiance
- Chapter Three: Adulterous Love as Modern Creation
- Chapter Four: The Twin Utopias of Transcendental Love
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
