Revolution and Exploration: the English Translations of Rousseau and Humboldt by Helen Maria Williams

British author Helen Maria Williams (1759-1827) was a well-known figure in the eighteenth century literary circles, whose work was praised by Elizabeth Montagu, Samuel Johnson, Dorothy and William Wordsworth, Mary Wollstonecraft, Hester Piozzi or Alexander von Humboldt.  In her early poems  Edwin and Eltruda (1782), An Ode to the Peace (1783) and Peru (1784), Williams starts to reveal her political tendencies by appealing to strong empathic feelings as a key to social and political transformation. As a result of her interest in politics, she travelled to France in 1790 and published her most acclaimed work Letters from France (1790). However, the rest of her production has received little critical attention by modern scholars, who have overlooked her involvement in translation. Williams’ only extant novel, Julia (1790) is in fact a creative translation of Rousseau’s Julie ou La Nouvelle Héloïse (1761), in which Williams includes poems that evidence her interest in revolutionary politics. Four years later, she translated Bernardin de Saint Pierre’s Paul et Virginie, while she was imprisoned in Paris. While translating novels was regarded as a respectable exercise for women writers, Williams challenges gender assumptions by translating Researches (1814) and the seven volumes of Personal Narrative (1814-1829), which had been produced by one of the most influential eighteenth century scientists, Alexander von Humboldt. This article interrogates how Williams makes use of translation to access areas of knowledge traditionally restricted to men, such as philosophy, politics and science. For this purpose, I will focus on her translations of the work of two leading intellectual figures of the eighteenth century,  Rousseau and Von Humboldt

The colour of words : crafting links between romantic poets and painters

'The colour of words: crafting links between romantic poets and painters' aims at establishing a link between English Romantic poetry and painting. Most of the attempts to find this connection have concentrated on the themes and topics shared both by painters and poets. However, this work aims to focus not only on the aesthetic philosophy but also on the similarities in artistic techniques that enabled the particular expression of an artistic vision, the Romantic Movement. For this purpose, poems and paintings have been analyzed by comparing their formal aspects.This research has focused on Wordsworth, Constable, Lord Byron, Turner and Blake as cases of study.'The colour of words: crafting links between romantic poets and painters' té com a objectiu establir un vincle entre la poesia romàntica anglesa i la pintura. La majoria dels intents per trobar aquesta connexió s'han concentrat en els temes compartits tant pels pintors com pels poetes. No obstant això, l'objectiu d'aquest treball es concentrar-se no només en la filosofia estètica, sinó també en las similituds en les tècniques artístiques que van fer possible l'expressió particular d'una visió artística, el moviment Romàntic. Per això, poemes i pintures han estat analitzats mitjançant la comparació del seus aspectes formals. Aquesta recerca s'ha centrat en Wordsworth, Constable, Lord Byron, Turner i Blake com a casos d'estudi

Romantic without borders : tracing emotional intensity in Helen Maria Williams' 'Julia' (1790) and 'A tour in Switzerland' (1798)

The work of Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) was widely read by her contemporaries. However, compared to other writers of the same period, her texts have received less critical attention at the present time. She has essentially been regarded as an author of Sensibility in the last three decades of feminist scholarship. Her Letters written in France (1790) record political events and commentary on the French Revolution and have placed Williams in a tradition of radical politics. This dissertation interrogates two of Williams' works that have received scant critical attention: her only novel Julia (1790) and her travelogue Tour in Switzerland (1798). I am interested in identifying the fluctuations in the representation of intense emotions, which I contend is a characteristic of Helen Maria Williams' style. For this purpose, I have focused on Williams' use of the feminine voice, especially in Julia, the description of the perception of nature, and the representation of the experience of the Sublime

The Writing of Politics and the Politics of Writing in Helen Maria Williams’ A Tour in Switzerland (1798)

British author and political activist Helen Maria Williams (1759-1827) dedicated the greatest part of her career to describe and analyse the French Revolution and the consequences of its aftermath. She is known for her Letters written in France (1790), an eyewitness account of her first visit to France. At the beginning of her career, Williams was praised in Britain for her  sensibility poems. However, when she moved to France, and especially after the publication of A Tour Switzerland (1798), she shows her commitment to the ideas of the French Revolution while presenting her writing a source for accurate political and historical information. For this aim, she employs a series of strategies that situate herself in the position of an informed intellectual. This article focuses on A Tour in Switzerland, a work that has received less critical attention than Letters but deserves reconsideration.La autora y activista política británica Helen Maria Williams (1759-1827) dedicó la mayor parte de su carrera a describir y analizar la Revolución Francesa y sus consecuencias. Es conocida por su obra Letters written in France (1790), un testimonio de su primera visita a Francia. Al principio de su carrera, fue elogiada en Gran Bretaña por sus poemas de sensibilidad. Sin embargo, cuando se traslada a Francia, y especialmente tras la publicación de A Tour in Switzerland (1798), muestra su compromiso con las ideas de la Revolución Francesa mientras presenta sus obras como fuentes de rigurosa información política e histórica. Con este propósito, emplea una serie de estrategias para situarse en la posición de una intelectual informada. Este artículo se centra en A Tour in Switzerland, una obra que ha recibido menos atención que Letters por parte de la crítica pero que merece ser reconsiderada.

"I Partake the Common Feeling" : Helen Maria Williams' Political Writings on The French Revolution (1790-1827)

L'escriptora britànica Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) viatjà a França el juliol del 1790 per participar en les celebracions del primer aniversari de la Revolució Francesa. En una època en la qual era considerat inapropiat que les dones participessin en la política, Williams va dedicar el gruix de la seva carrera a escriure cròniques sobre els esdeveniments que va presenciar a la França revolucionaria. Els seus escrits sobre la Revolució han estat estudiats tradicionalment de manera aïllada de la seva obra, o amb les seves produccions prèvies i recepció. Per aquesta raó aquesta tesi ofereix un estudi complet centrat exclusivament en l'anàlisi de Williams sobre els esdeveniments de la revolució. Escrivint a finals del segle divuit, Williams va ser influenciada per la literatura de la sensibilitat. Tanmateix, ella es desmarca del gir individualista que aquesta tradició literària va començar a adquirir durant les últimes dècades del segle. En les cròniques, la compassió es troba al nucli de l'acció política, ja que Williams encoratja a les persones a participar en els esdeveniments polítics pensant en el canvi col·lectiu i no només per alleugerir el patiment en l'àmbit individual. Williams entén la política com un esforç col·lectiu i, per tant, no concep un futur en el qual el destí de les nacions està únicament en mans dels líders polítics. Per ella, és possible participar en la política a través de petites accions quotidianes, el qual es convertí en un dels temes que ella explora en la seva obra. A més a més, Williams no considera la divisió entre el que és públic i el que és privat com quelcom rígid i estable, sinó que es fixa molt en com les decisions polítiques afecten la vida diària de les persones. Tot i que aquesta manera d'entendre la política ha estat considerada domèstica per autores com Mellor (1992: 64) o Ducklin (2010: 79), aquesta tesi demostra que Williams no se centra exclusivament en l'àmbit de la llar. Per referir-se als assumptes individuals, Williams centra la seva atenció en els espais públics com les presons, els salons, els carrers i el camp de batalla. Després d'establir-se de manera permanent a França el 1792, Williams va passar a ocupar un lloc únic en comparació amb altres autors britànics del seu temps que participaven en els debats sobre la revolució, com Burke o Wollstonecraft. És per aquest motiu que Williams apel·la al discurs revolucionari en lloc de basar-se en una posició nacionalista a l'hora de reivindicar l'emancipació de la societat.La escritora británica Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) viajó a Francia en Julio de 1790 para participar en las celebraciones por el primer aniversario de la Revolución Francesa. En una época en la que se consideraba inapropiado que las mujeres participaran en política, Williams dedicó la mayor parte de su carrera como escritora a escribir crónicas acerca de los eventos que presenció en la Francia revolucionaria. Sus escritos sobre la Revolución han sido estudiados tradicionalmente de forma aislada del resto de su obra, o con su producciones previas y recepción. Por esa razón, esta tesis ofrece un estudio crítico completo centrado únicamente en sus análisis de los eventos de la Revolución. Al escribir al final del siglo dieciocho, Williams recibió la literatura de sensibilidad. Sin embargo, ella se desmarca del giro individualista que esta tradición literaria comenzó a adquirir en las últimas décadas del dieciocho. En sus crónicas, la compasión se encuentra en el núcleo de la acción política, ya que empuja a las persona a participar en los eventos políticos pensando en el cambio colectivo y no solo para aliviar el sufrimiento a nivel individual. Williams entiende la política como un esfuerzo colectivo y, por lo tanto, no concibe un futuro en el que el destino de las naciones está únicamente en las manos de los líderes políticos. Para ella, es posible tomar parte en la política a través de pequeñas acciones cotidianas, lo que se convierte en uno de los temas que explora en su obra. Además, Williams no considera la división entre lo público y lo privado como algo rígido y fijo, si no que presta mucha atención a cómo las decisiones políticas afectan a la vida diaria de las personas. A pesar de que esta manera de entender la política ha sido considerada doméstica por autoras como Mellor (1992: 64) o Ducklin (2010: 79), esta tesis se demuestra que Williams no se centra exclusivamente en el ámbito del hogar. Para referirse a los asuntos individuales, Williams presta atención a espacios públicos como las cárceles, los salones, las calles y el campo de batalla. Tras asentarse de forma permanente en Francia en 1792, Williams ocupaba un lugar único en comparación a otros autores británicos de su tiempo que participaron en los debates acerca de la revolución, Burke o Wollstonecraft por ejemplo. Es por ese motivo que Williams apela al discurso revolucionario en lugar de basarse en una posición nacionalista a la hora de reivindicar la emancipación de la sociedad.British author Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) traveled to France in July 1790 to participate in the first anniversary of the French Revolution. At a time in which women's participation in the political discussion was regarded as improper, Williams devoted the greatest part of her writing career to produce chronicles discussing the events she witnessed in France. Her narratives on the Revolution have traditionally been studied either in isolation from the rest of her corpus, or together with her early production and reception. For that matter, this thesis provides a complete critical study focused only on her analysis of revolutionary events. Writing at the turn of the eighteenth century, Williams was influenced by the literature of Sensibility. However, she does not partake in the individualistic turn that this literary trend was taking in the last decades of the century. In her account, compassion is at the centre of political action, as it moves people to take part in the events with a collective change in mind and not only to alleviate suffering at an individual level. Williams sees politics as a collective effort and does not envision the future of nations as being only at the hands of political leaders. She explores the potential of acting in politics from the context of small and every-day actions. Besides, Williams does not see the divisions between the public and private as rigid and fixed, as she brings constant attention to how political decisions affect people on an everyday scale. Although this approach has been understood as domestic by Mellor (1992: 264) or Duckling (2010: 79), this dissertation shows that Williams is not only confined to the sphere of the home. In her discussion of individual affairs, Williams pays attention to public spaces such as prisons, salons, the streets and the battlefield. After setting in France permanently in 1792, Williams held a unique position compared to other contemporary British authors who participated in the debate surrounding the French Revolution in Britain, such as Burke or Wollstonecraft. As a result, Williams appeals to a revolutionary discourse rather than taking a nationalistic stance in order to make claims in favour of social emancipation

The Last King of France’s Letters: The Controversy between Helen Maria Williams and Bertrand de Moleville about the Translation of Louis XVI’s Correspondence

This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Correspondence and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s Refutation, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Correspondence is a work that deserves reconsideration as it sheds light into Williams’s participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work.This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work.

Romantic without borders : tracing emotional intensity in Helen Maria Williams’ ‘Julia’ (1790) and ‘A tour in Switzerland’ (1798)

The work of Helen Maria Williams (1761–1827) was widely read by her contemporaries. However, compared to other writers of the same period, her texts have received less critical attention at the present time. She has essentially been regarded as an author of Sensibility in the last three decades of feminist scholarship. Her Letters written in France (1790) record political events and commentary on the French Revolution and have placed Williams in a tradition of radical politics. This dissertation interrogates two of Williams’ works that have received scant critical attention: her only novel Julia (1790) and her travelogue Tour in Switzerland (1798). I am interested in identifying the fluctuations in the representation of intense emotions, which I contend is a characteristic of Helen Maria Williams’ style. For this purpose, I have focused on Williams’ use of the feminine voice, especially in Julia, the description of the perception of nature, and the representation of the experience of the Sublime

The Last King of France’s Letters: The Controversy between Helen Maria Williams and Bertrand de Moleville about the Translation of Louis XVI’s Correspondence

This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Correspondence and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s Refutation, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Correspondence is a work that deserves reconsideration as it sheds light into Williams’s participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work.This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work. This article examines The Political and Confidential Correspondence of Lewis the Sixteenth (1803), by Helen Maria Williams, in which she translates the letters by Louis XVI while she adds her own political commentaries. This translation received negative reviews and one of its harshest critics was royalist emigré Bertrand de Moleville. The first part of this article explores the controversy that surrounded Williams’s translation and reveals that the letters were forged. The following part analyzes Williams’s political arguments that legitimize the deposition of Louis XVI as the king of France. The last part explores Bertrand’s A Refutation of the Libel on the Memory of the Late King of France, published in 1804. The article concludes that, regardless of the authenticity of the letters, Williams’ work deserves reconsideration as it sheds light on her participation in the political debates of her time. Besides, the article shows that the misogynistic arguments employed by Bertrand contributed to the invisibilization of Williams’s work.

“I Partake the Common Feeling”: Helen Maria Williams’ Political Writings on The French Revolution (1790-1827)

L'escriptora britànica Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) viatjà a França el juliol del 1790 per participar en les celebracions del primer aniversari de la Revolució Francesa. En una època en la qual era considerat inapropiat que les dones participessin en la política, Williams va dedicar el gruix de la seva carrera a escriure cròniques sobre els esdeveniments que va presenciar a la França revolucionaria. Els seus escrits sobre la Revolució han estat estudiats tradicionalment de manera aïllada de la seva obra, o amb les seves produccions prèvies i recepció. Per aquesta raó aquesta tesi ofereix un estudi complet centrat exclusivament en l'anàlisi de Williams sobre els esdeveniments de la revolució. Escrivint a finals del segle divuit, Williams va ser influenciada per la literatura de la sensibilitat. Tanmateix, ella es desmarca del gir individualista que aquesta tradició literària va començar a adquirir durant les últimes dècades del segle. En les cròniques, la compassió es troba al nucli de l'acció política, ja que Williams encoratja a les persones a participar en els esdeveniments polítics pensant en el canvi col·lectiu i no només per alleugerir el patiment en l'àmbit individual. Williams entén la política com un esforç col·lectiu i, per tant, no concep un futur en el qual el destí de les nacions està únicament en mans dels líders polítics. Per ella, és possible participar en la política a través de petites accions quotidianes, el qual es convertí en un dels temes que ella explora en la seva obra. A més a més, Williams no considera la divisió entre el que és públic i el que és privat com quelcom rígid i estable, sinó que es fixa molt en com les decisions polítiques afecten la vida diària de les persones. Tot i que aquesta manera d'entendre la política ha estat considerada domèstica per autores com Mellor (1992: 64) o Ducklin (2010: 79), aquesta tesi demostra que Williams no se centra exclusivament en l'àmbit de la llar. Per referir-se als assumptes individuals, Williams centra la seva atenció en els espais públics com les presons, els salons, els carrers i el camp de batalla. Després d'establir-se de manera permanent a França el 1792, Williams va passar a ocupar un lloc únic en comparació amb altres autors britànics del seu temps que participaven en els debats sobre la revolució, com Burke o Wollstonecraft. És per aquest motiu que Williams apel·la al discurs revolucionari en lloc de basar-se en una posició nacionalista a l'hora de reivindicar l'emancipació de la societat.La escritora británica Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) viajó a Francia en Julio de 1790 para participar en las celebraciones por el primer aniversario de la Revolución Francesa. En una época en la que se consideraba inapropiado que las mujeres participaran en política, Williams dedicó la mayor parte de su carrera como escritora a escribir crónicas acerca de los eventos que presenció en la Francia revolucionaria. Sus escritos sobre la Revolución han sido estudiados tradicionalmente de forma aislada del resto de su obra, o con su producciones previas y recepción. Por esa razón, esta tesis ofrece un estudio crítico completo centrado únicamente en sus análisis de los eventos de la Revolución. Al escribir al final del siglo dieciocho, Williams recibió la literatura de sensibilidad. Sin embargo, ella se desmarca del giro individualista que esta tradición literaria comenzó a adquirir en las últimas décadas del dieciocho. En sus crónicas, la compasión se encuentra en el núcleo de la acción política, ya que empuja a las persona a participar en los eventos políticos pensando en el cambio colectivo y no solo para aliviar el sufrimiento a nivel individual. Williams entiende la política como un esfuerzo colectivo y, por lo tanto, no concibe un futuro en el que el destino de las naciones está únicamente en las manos de los líderes políticos. Para ella, es posible tomar parte en la política a través de pequeñas acciones cotidianas, lo que se convierte en uno de los temas que explora en su obra. Además, Williams no considera la división entre lo público y lo privado como algo rígido y fijo, si no que presta mucha atención a cómo las decisiones políticas afectan a la vida diaria de las personas. A pesar de que esta manera de entender la política ha sido considerada doméstica por autoras como Mellor (1992: 64) o Ducklin (2010: 79), esta tesis se demuestra que Williams no se centra exclusivamente en el ámbito del hogar. Para referirse a los asuntos individuales, Williams presta atención a espacios públicos como las cárceles, los salones, las calles y el campo de batalla. Tras asentarse de forma permanente en Francia en 1792, Williams ocupaba un lugar único en comparación a otros autores británicos de su tiempo que participaron en los debates acerca de la revolución, Burke o Wollstonecraft por ejemplo. Es por ese motivo que Williams apela al discurso revolucionario en lugar de basarse en una posición nacionalista a la hora de reivindicar la emancipación de la sociedad.British author Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) traveled to France in July 1790 to participate in the first anniversary of the French Revolution. At a time in which women's participation in the political discussion was regarded as improper, Williams devoted the greatest part of her writing career to produce chronicles discussing the events she witnessed in France. Her narratives on the Revolution have traditionally been studied either in isolation from the rest of her corpus, or together with her early production and reception. For that matter, this thesis provides a complete critical study focused only on her analysis of revolutionary events. Writing at the turn of the eighteenth century, Williams was influenced by the literature of Sensibility. However, she does not partake in the individualistic turn that this literary trend was taking in the last decades of the century. In her account, compassion is at the centre of political action, as it moves people to take part in the events with a collective change in mind and not only to alleviate suffering at an individual level. Williams sees politics as a collective effort and does not envision the future of nations as being only at the hands of political leaders. She explores the potential of acting in politics from the context of small and every-day actions. Besides, Williams does not see the divisions between the public and private as rigid and fixed, as she brings constant attention to how political decisions affect people on an everyday scale. Although this approach has been understood as domestic by Mellor (1992: 264) or Duckling (2010: 79), this dissertation shows that Williams is not only confined to the sphere of the home. In her discussion of individual affairs, Williams pays attention to public spaces such as prisons, salons, the streets and the battlefield. After setting in France permanently in 1792, Williams held a unique position compared to other contemporary British authors who participated in the debate surrounding the French Revolution in Britain, such as Burke or Wollstonecraft. As a result, Williams appeals to a revolutionary discourse rather than taking a nationalistic stance in order to make claims in favour of social emancipation.Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Programa de Doctorat en Filologia Angles

Romantic without borders : tracing emotional intensity in Helen Maria Williams' 'Julia' (1790) and 'A tour in Switzerland' (1798)

The work of Helen Maria Williams (1761-1827) was widely read by her contemporaries. However, compared to other writers of the same period, her texts have received less critical attention at the present time. She has essentially been regarded as an author of Sensibility in the last three decades of feminist scholarship. Her Letters written in France (1790) record political events and commentary on the French Revolution and have placed Williams in a tradition of radical politics. This dissertation interrogates two of Williams' works that have received scant critical attention: her only novel Julia (1790) and her travelogue Tour in Switzerland (1798). I am interested in identifying the fluctuations in the representation of intense emotions, which I contend is a characteristic of Helen Maria Williams' style. For this purpose, I have focused on Williams' use of the feminine voice, especially in Julia, the description of the perception of nature, and the representation of the experience of the Sublime