Introduction: mapping cultures of improvement in Scottish Romanticism

Citation

Benchimol A & McKeever GL (2018) Introduction: mapping cultures of improvement in Scottish Romanticism. In: Benchimol A & McKeever GL (eds.) Cultures of Improvement in Scottish Romanticism, 1707-1840. The Enlightenment World. London: Routledge, pp. 1-16. https://www.routledge.com/Cultures-of-Improvement-in-Scottish-Romanticism-1707-1840/Benchimol-McKeever/p/book/9780367591519

Abstract
The first applied research volume in Scottish Romanticism, this collection foregrounds the concept of progress as 'improvement' as a constitutive theme of Scottish writing during the long eighteenth century. It explores improvement as the animating principle behind Scotland’s post-1707 project of modernization, a narrative both shaped and reflected in the literary sphere. It represents a vital moment in Romantic studies, as a 'four-nations' interrogation of the British context reaches maturity. Equally, the volume contributes to a central concern in the study of Scottish culture, amplifying a critical synthesis of Romanticism and Enlightenment.