{"product_id":"something-new-9781551110790","title":"Something New","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo be a heroine is to be beautiful—such has been the unstated assumption from the time of chivalric romance to that of Harlequin romance. But this ideology of ‘the beauty myth’ was challenged as early as 1801 with the publication of this extraordinary epistolary novel-romance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSomething New\u003c\/em\u003e explores sexual roles and questions with subtlety and astonishingly modern insight the prevailing ‘rights’ of men over women, and their respective attitudes towards one another. The book explores how issues of beauty, femininity and self-support are central to the main character, Olivia, and her suitor Lionel. Lionel, who has always been ‘the devoted slave of beauty,’ becomes convinced that marriage to the ‘proverbially plain’ Olivia will lead them to ‘a little paradise on earth.’ Do they attain this paradise? The resolution to this romance retains the power to surprise the reader as much today as it did when \u003cem\u003eSomething New\u003c\/em\u003e was first published.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Plumptre’s creation of a physically unattractive heroine is indeed ‘something new.’ Her innovation in this epistolary novel also extends beyond the characterization of Olivia to the models of masculinity, sentimental and satiric, so tellingly grouped around her. McLeod’s skillful edition includes a thought-provoking compendium of 18th-century views of beauty and ugliness.” — Jennifer Thorn, Duke University\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A wonderful novel. A highly accomplished book, fresh and relevant to feminist debates today.” — Isobel Grundy, co-editor of \u003cem\u003eThe Feminist Companion to English Literature\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eAnne Plumptre: A Brief Chronology\u003cbr\u003eA Note on the Text\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSomething New: or, Adventures at Campbell-House\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppendix: Eighteenth-Century Views of Beauty and Ugliness\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadview Press Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51041302118743,"sku":"9781551110790","price":27.86,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781551110790.jpg?v=1750949727","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/something-new-9781551110790","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}