Extract

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Romantic atmospheric discourses by engaging with a diverse range of subjects, such as meteorology, metaphysics, aesthetics, linguistics, translation, medical pneumatics, theology, politics, philosophy, media theory, and print culture. Ford’s wide repertoire of references, however, obscures his focus on Wordsworth’s poetry and poetics in general. Out of the five main chapters, two of them have no specific mentioning of Wordsworth or his works. Even Ford’s minimal attention to the close readings of texts is shared among his analysis of other Romantic aerial figures. Ford’s commentary on Wordsworth’s writings mostly consists of locating the poet’s employment of atmospheric language; more might have been done to highlight the unique significance of this atmospheric approach to our understanding of particular Wordsworthian passages. Moreover, Ford’s almost synonymous use of various meteorological terms and phenomena such as air and atmosphere, weather and climate runs contra to his intention of approaching Romantic literary characteristics through actual scientific concepts and connotations. Overall, Ford’s meticulous effort in contextualising the various ambiguities and paradoxes that govern the historical conception of atmosphere engages rewardingly with current ecological and eco-critical discussions to open up new avenues of atmospheric inquiry in Romantic literature and history. […]