Radical in Moderation: The Persuasive Strategy of Anna Laetitia Barbauld's Political and Religious Writings
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Authors
Lomonossoff, Natasha Anna
Date
2025-07-04
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Romanticism , Anna Laetitia Barbauld , Politics , Religion
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Abstract
This thesis is concerned with the work of Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743-1825), a writer and educator active during the Romantic literary period in Britain. My main argument is that her works express a distinctive philosophy which bridges the gap between political radicalism and moderation. While she promoted liberal ideas across her writings, she was equally concerned with the power of persuasion for changing minds. This concern was informed by her occupation as an educator, given how she communicates the importance of tolerance and inquiry in her works for children. A similar imperative is seen in Barbauld’s political pamphlets, where she encourages her readers to consider ideas that they might find disagreeable. In a period where there are often binary distinctions between radical and conservative schools of thought, I believe an examination of Barbauld’s philosophy has the potential to introduce important nuances in the discussion of politics during the Romantic era.
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Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
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Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.