Bodily Pain in Romantic Literature

Exploring the interplay between physical pain and Romantic literature, this study delves into the era's poetry, philosophy, and medical discourse. It traces the evolution of pain's significance from eighteenth-century medical debates to the advent of surgical anesthesia in 1846. Key figures like Jeremy Bentham and Adam Smith are examined, revealing how pain influenced their thoughts and broader discussions on politics, ethics, and identity. By integrating insights from the medical humanities, the book provides a novel perspective on the cultural implications of bodily hurt during the Romantic period.