The Centre of Things
Political Fiction from Disraeli to the Present

A study of the political theme in British literature. This book argues that these works represent an important element of the conventions on which the British "unwritten constitution" has depended since parliament took on a representative function over 150 years ago.

The Centre of Things is an historical and critical essay on the role of fiction in British politics. Focusing on Disraeli, Galt, Eliot, Trollope, Wells and Cary among others, this scholarly, scornful and witty text is the first treatment of its subject for nearly seventy years. Features: Examines the 'Disraelian' type of political novel (in rapid decline today) with parliament as the stage about which the action revolves Describes another kind of political novel which subjected Parliament to the rigorous scrutiny of 'civil virtue' Examines the factors which made the political novel such a lure for publishers and politicians alike Disentangles the complex web of allusion, character and plotting which 'fixed' the genre. The Centre of Things condemns the self-deception of a complacent, incompetent political elite - left and right - within a state whose parliamentary 'elective dictatorship' have brought it to the edge of collapse.

Preface The Conversation of People who Counted The Literature of Crisis The Triumph of Disraeli Landscape with Candidates The Golden Age: the Mid-Victorian Political Novel Revolutionaries and Elitists, 1886-1914 In Time of Strife, 1914-26 Class? Nation? Commonwealth? The Fall and Rise of British Political Fiction Index