Sublime

Abstract

The Sublime: A Study of Critical Theories in XVIII-Century England by Samuel H. Monk explores the evolution of the concept of the sublime in aesthetic and critical thought in eighteenth-century England. Monk provides a detailed analysis of how the sublime was interpreted and its influence on various arts, including literature, painting, and architecture. The study examines the shifts in taste and the aesthetic appreciation of aspects such as wild and mountainous scenery and the expression of intense emotions. Initially rooted in the rhetorical treatise of Longinus and interpreted by figures like Addison and Burke, the sublime evolved into a complex, subjective concept, ultimately influencing philosophical and romantic thought. Monk's work is supported by an extensive review of contemporary writings and previous scholarship, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of eighteenth-century aesthetic theory and its impact on later intellectual and artistic developments. This reprint edition includes a new preface by the author.

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