Pilgrimage and its paratexts

Stanton, Renée Jane (2016). Pilgrimage and its paratexts. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis analyses the paratexts of Dorothy Richardson’s long modernist novel sequence, \(Pilgrimage\). Peritexts, such as the prefaces to \(Pilgrimage\), and epitexts, such as letters written by Richardson and others about \(Pilgrimage\), are explored alongside other paratextual material such as the front covers of different editions, peritextual blurbs and epitextual reviews. I consider the paratexts of \(Pilgrimage\) to be as worthy of study as the anchoring text itself and seek to explain the recurrence of particular paratextual themes which have served to cast doubt on \(Pilgrimage\)’s status and Richardson’s qualities as a writer. Linguistic markers of tentativeness and reservation circulate in \(Pilgrimage\)’s paratextual space, inscribing a dominant tone that has served, at times, to undermine \(Pilgrimage\) and its author. This thesis, by using a range of interdisciplinary, contextualist approaches from narratology, stylistics and modernist studies, traces the links between \(Pilgrimage\)’s paratexts. In so doing it seeks to explain the prominence and liminality of certain paratexts and analyses the collisions and collusions that have characterised \(Pilgrimage\)’s paratextual space.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):