The essays gathered here capture fresh perspectives on the literary environments of the eighteenth century. The core concern of this volume is culture â " the ways in which it shapes literature and is in turn influenced by it: the â oewaysâ of fiction. Especially commissioned from experts in the field, essays cover the whole of the century, embracing such themes as class, gender, nationhood, politics, and identity. Through scrutiny of familiar and less well-known authors alike, the collection fo...