SKU: 2374137478

The Burdens of Perfection: On Ethics and Reading in Nineteenth-Century British Literature

Sale price$22.15 Regular price$24.61
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 13 - Jul 18

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Burdens of Perfection: On Ethics and Reading in Nineteenth-Century British LiteratureIn some moods, or for some people, the desire to improve can seem so natural as to be banal. The impulse drives forward so much in our culture that it can color our thoughts and shape our actions without being much noticed. But in other moods, or for other people, this strenuous desire becomes all too noticeable, and its demands crushing. It can then drive a sleepless attention to ourselves, a desolate evaluation of what we have been and what we are.

In some moods, or for some people, the desire to improve can seem so natural as to be banal. The impulse drives forward so much in our culture that it can color our thoughts and shape our actions without being much noticed. But in other moods, or for other people, this strenuous desire becomes all too noticeable, and its demands crushing. It can then drive a sleepless attention to ourselves, a desolate evaluation of what we have been and what we are.--from The Burdens of Perfection

Literary criticism has, in recent decades, rather fled from discussions of moral psychology, and for good reasons, too. Who would not want to flee the hectoring moralism with which it is so easily associated-portentous, pious, humorless? But in protecting us from such fates, our flight has had its costs, as we have lost the concepts needed to recognize and assess much of what distinguished nineteenth-century British literature. That literature was inescapably ethical in orientation, and to proceed as if it were not ignores a large part of what these texts have to offer, and to that degree makes less reasonable the desire to study them, rather than other documents from the period, or from other periods.

Such are the intuitions that drive The Burdens of Perfection, a study of moral perfectionism in nineteenth-century British culture. Reading the period's essayists (Mill, Arnold, Carlyle), poets (Browning and Tennyson), and especially its novelists (Austen, Dickens, Eliot, and James), Andrew H. Miller provides an extensive response to Stanley Cavell's contribution to ethics and philosophy of mind. In the process, Miller offers a fresh way to perceive the Victorians and the lingering traces their quests for improvement have left on readers.

--Regenia Gagnier, University of Exeter "Choice"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 12/16/2010
ISBN: 9780801477188
Pages: 260
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 2374137478

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.0 ★★★★★
Based on 301 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
D
Verified Purchase
david medina jr
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Very vibrant.
Great quality!!!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
MichaeLove D
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Amazing Quality and Value!
I've been using this Ink for all my printing projects, and I couldn't be happier with the results! The colors are incredibly vibrant and true to life, making every print look professional and eye-catching. The clarity is outstanding, capturing all the intricate details of my designs perfectly. What I love most is that I get this amazing quality at such an affordable price. It's a fantastic value for the money, especially for someone who prints regularly. The bottles are easy to handle and refill, which saves me a lot of time and hassle. Overall, I highly recommend Hiipoo Sublimation Ink to anyone looking for high-quality, cost-effective ink solutions. It's made a noticeable difference in the quality of my prints, and I'm thrilled with the results!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024
J
Verified Purchase
Juan Martinez
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Fast delivery
Worked perfectly
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
T
Verified Purchase
Tee
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Great ink great price
Purchased ink for sublimation projects. Print colors were great true colors. Ink lasted a long time. Did not affect my epson ET 15000 in any way. Love this ink
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2026
G
Verified Purchase
Great game
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product
Hippo brand is the best sublimation ink all my items turn out Brite and fabulous
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2026

recommand products