Len Platt Libri

This is the first book to reconstruct early popular musical theatre as a transnational and highly cosmopolitan entertainment industry.

Len Platt charts a fresh approach through one of the great masterpieces of twentieth-century literature. Using original archival research and detailed close readings, he outlines Joyce's literary response to the racial discourse of twentieth-century politics. Platt's account is the first to position Finnegans Wake in precise historical conditions and to explore Joyce's engagement with European fascism. Race, Platt claims, is a central theme for Joyce, both in terms of the colonial and post-colonial conflicts between the Irish and the British, and in terms of its use by the extreme right. It is in this context that Joyce's engagement with race, while certainly a product of colonial relations, also figures as a wider disputation with rationalism, capitalism and modernity.

Finnegans Wakeis Joyce's last great work, and is formulated as one dense, tongue-twisting soundscape. It also remains the mosthilarious, 'obscene', book of innuendos ever to be imagined.

Exploring the intricate relationship between James Joyce's literary works and educational themes, this book delves into how Joyce's experiences and views on education influenced his writing. It examines key texts, highlighting the portrayal of schooling, intellectual growth, and the impact of education on identity. Through a critical lens, the author analyzes Joyce's innovative narrative techniques and their connection to pedagogical concepts, offering insights into the broader implications of education in his literature and its relevance to contemporary discussions.

Exploring the history of popular culture in Europe since 1800, this book offers a fresh perspective that redefines conventional links to the post-1945 era and American economic influence. It examines cultural phenomena and shifts over two centuries, highlighting how European popular culture has evolved independently, shaped by its own historical and social contexts. Through this lens, the narrative challenges existing assumptions and encourages a deeper understanding of Europe's cultural landscape.

The book examines the decline of the British aristocracy between 1890 and 1920 and its profound impact on literature. It highlights how authors reimagined aristocratic figures, transforming them into diverse characters such as warrior heroes, detectives, and Gothic monsters. By analyzing these literary responses, the work reveals the ways in which the aristocracy remained a pivotal theme in late Victorian and early 20th-century culture, reflecting societal changes and evolving values during this transformative period.