Literature and Humanitarian Reform in the Civil War Era
Author | : Gregory Eiselein |
Publisher | : Indiana University Press |
Total Pages | : 240 |
Release | : 1996-12-22 |
ISBN-10 | : 0253113121 |
ISBN-13 | : 9780253113122 |
Rating | : 4/5 (21 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: "... this volume presents a reasonable, fresh, and well-researched reading of several key texts in American studies." -- Journal of the American Studies Association of Texas During the Civil War, a crisis erupted in philanthropy that dramatically changed humanitarian theories and demanded new approaches to humanitarian work. Certain writer-activists began to advocate an "eccentric benevolence" -- a type of philanthropy that would undo the distinction between the powerful bestowers of benevolence and the weaker folks who receive it. Among the figures discussed are the anti-philanthropic Henry David Thoreau and the dangerously philanthropic John Brown.