Abstract
Kendall's poetry is frequently read with a focus on its critique of the
complacency of human anthropocentric interpretation of Darwinian
evolution. The argument in this article, however, is that the tendency
to focus on Darwinism in isolation has obscured the breadth of Kendall's
interests. The passing reference to Kant and Hegel in a poem such as
"Lay of the Trilobite" is an example of her sustained consideration of
one of the most prominent intellectual trends in late-Victorian Britain:
the revival of idealist philosophy. Kendall's comic verse encapsulates
and interrogates the connections between several important aspects of
late-Victorian culture. Her thinking about idealism informs and is
informed by her views on Darwinism, and both in turn constitute parts of
the ethical foundation of her belief in social reform.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 429-451 |
| Journal | English Literature in Transition 1880 - 1920 |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Mar 2020 |
