From Archaeology to Spectacle in Victorian Britain

The Case of Assyria, 1845-1854

Nonfiction, History, World History
Cover of the book From Archaeology to Spectacle in Victorian Britain by Shawn Malley, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Shawn Malley ISBN: 9781317132516
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 15, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Shawn Malley
ISBN: 9781317132516
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 15, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

In his examination of the excavation of ancient Assyria by Austen Henry Layard, Shawn Malley reveals how, by whom, and for what reasons the stones of Assyria were deployed during a brief but remarkably intense period of archaeological activity in the mid-nineteenth century. His book encompasses the archaeological practices and representations that originated in Layard's excavations, radiated outward by way of the British Museum and Layard's best-selling Nineveh and Its Remains (1849), and were then dispersed into the public domain of popular amusements. That the stones of Assyria resonated in debates far beyond the interests of religious and scientific groups is apparent in the prevalence of poetry, exhibitions, plays, and dioramas inspired by the excavation. Of particular note, correspondence involving high-ranking diplomatic personnel and museum officials demonstrates that the 'treasures' brought home to fill the British Museum served not only as signs of symbolic conquest, but also as covert means for extending Britain's political and economic influence in the Near East. Malley takes up issues of class and influence to show how the middle-class Layard's celebrity status both advanced and threatened aristocratic values. Tellingly, the excavations prompted disturbing questions about the perils of imperial rule that framed discussions of the social and political conditions which brought England to the brink of revolution in 1848 and resurfaced with a vengeance during the Crimean crisis. In the provocative conclusion of this meticulously documented and suggestive book, Malley points toward the striking parallels between the history of Britain's imperial investment in Mesopotamia and the contemporary geopolitical uses and abuses of Assyrian antiquity in post-invasion Iraq.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In his examination of the excavation of ancient Assyria by Austen Henry Layard, Shawn Malley reveals how, by whom, and for what reasons the stones of Assyria were deployed during a brief but remarkably intense period of archaeological activity in the mid-nineteenth century. His book encompasses the archaeological practices and representations that originated in Layard's excavations, radiated outward by way of the British Museum and Layard's best-selling Nineveh and Its Remains (1849), and were then dispersed into the public domain of popular amusements. That the stones of Assyria resonated in debates far beyond the interests of religious and scientific groups is apparent in the prevalence of poetry, exhibitions, plays, and dioramas inspired by the excavation. Of particular note, correspondence involving high-ranking diplomatic personnel and museum officials demonstrates that the 'treasures' brought home to fill the British Museum served not only as signs of symbolic conquest, but also as covert means for extending Britain's political and economic influence in the Near East. Malley takes up issues of class and influence to show how the middle-class Layard's celebrity status both advanced and threatened aristocratic values. Tellingly, the excavations prompted disturbing questions about the perils of imperial rule that framed discussions of the social and political conditions which brought England to the brink of revolution in 1848 and resurfaced with a vengeance during the Crimean crisis. In the provocative conclusion of this meticulously documented and suggestive book, Malley points toward the striking parallels between the history of Britain's imperial investment in Mesopotamia and the contemporary geopolitical uses and abuses of Assyrian antiquity in post-invasion Iraq.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Against All Odds by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book How History Works by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Cellular Manufacturing by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Risk, Technology, and Moral Emotions by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Social Work and Integration in Immigrant Communities by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book The Victorian Novelist by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Knowledge, Power, and Education by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book New Strategies in Higher Education Marketing by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book The Politics of Economic Reform in Germany by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Money, Politics, and Law by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Achieving Excellence in Your Coaching Practice by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Building Mycology by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Foreign Investment, International Law and Common Concerns by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Monitoring Forest Biodiversity by Shawn Malley
Cover of the book Moulding the Medium: Chinese Communist Party and the "Liberation Daily" by Shawn Malley
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy