I’ve dedicated this book to my two daughters, Charlotte and Rowan. Earlier in the process, Wai Chee Dimock, Marc Redfield, and Laura Otis graciously agreed to read sections of the book, providing some key guidance, questions, and suggestions. The comments of the readers-Russ Castronovo, David Nye, and Laura Rigal-pushed me to refine my arguments in very different and constructive ways. At Stanford University Press, Emily-Jane Cohen has been a patient, supportive, and careful editor in guiding this work towards its completion. I can always count on him to supply the right balance of critique and support. His friendship, good humor, and knowledge about just about everything have provided a real boost to this project for a number of years. I couldn’t have asked for a better collaborator than Greg Jackson. The scholars who participated, through their papers, their questions and comments, and their conversation, helped me to conceive the broader context for this work: Nancy Bentley, Bill Brown, Russ Castronovo, James Dawes, Elizabeth Maddock Dillon, Wai Chee Dimock, Rob Kaufman, Dana Nelson, Sam Otter, Nancy Ruttenburg, and Eric Sundquist. As this project neared completion, SCAG and the Huntington Library further enabled me to hone my thinking by giving Greg Jackson and me the chance to organize a conference on “Historical Formalism, or Aesthetics in American Literary History.” Again, I’d like to thank Roy Ritchie and the staff at the Huntington, especially Carolyn Powell and Susi Krasnoo, for all their help and support. I’ve learned an incredible amount from all participants, especially the most regular regulars, Mark McGurl, Elisa Tamarkin, Mark Goble, and Sianne Ngai.
Years my work has grown by coordinating this group with Greg Jackson, Eric Hayot, and Sharon Oster. Founded by Michael Szalay, and carried on under the leadership of Jennifer Fleissner and Cathy Jurca, the group has continued to provide a wonderful framework for discussion and interaction, fellowship and goodwill. I have been equally fortunate to have participated in the Southern California Americanist Group (SCAG) since I came to the Los Angeles area. My chair, Eileen Klink, and my students and my colleagues, especially Tim Caron and George Hart, have made Long Beach a great place to teach, to learn, and to grow. In the years since then, during my time at California State University, Long Beach, I have been fortunate to have additional time for research through course reductions supported by awards from the Scholarly and Creative Activity Committee. Keck Foundation Director of Research, and the entire staff of the library for their help and support. Their extensive holdings and the collaborative environment the library fostered helped to direct and give final shape to this project. The project developed most quickly and fully during the 2001–2002 academic year, thanks to a Barbara Thom Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Reprinted by permission of The University of Rhode Island. A significantly shorter and different version of Chapter 3 was originally published as “Aesthetic Power: Electric Words and the Example of Frederick Douglass,” in ATQ, Volume 16, No. Along the way, bits and pieces of the final project appeared in “The Telegraph in Black and White,” ELH 69 (2002) and “Romantic Electricity, or The Materiality of Aesthetics,” American Literature 76 (2004). This book completes a long process that began as I finished my dissertation at the University of Chicago. Walt Whitman, “I Sing the Body Electric” what is this then? I do not ask any more delight. to rest my arm ever so lightly round his or her neck for a moment. I have perceived that to be with those I like is enough, To stop in company with the rest at evening is enough, To be surrounded by beautiful curious breathing laughing flesh is enough. ps217.a35g55 2009 810.9'003-dc22 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free, archival-quality paper Typeset at Stanford University Press in 10/13 Galliard Authors, American-19th century-Aesthetics. American literature-19th century-History and criticism. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Aesthetic materialism : electricity and American romanticism / Paul Gilmore. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gilmore, Paul. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Stanford University Press. Stanford University Press Stanford, California © 2009 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University All rights reserved Parts of Chapter 3 were originally published in ATQ, Volume 16, No. Stanford university press Stanford, California 2009
Aesthetic Material]m electricity and american romanticism
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