Hunt Green Earths Rural Chronicles dissertation 1991 (original) (raw)

This dissertation explores the writings of John Clare and his relationship with the natural world, particularly focusing on how his local environment influenced his literary works over fifty years. It examines Clare's approach through three key themes: the broader environment, specific species, and his later visionary writings. The dissertation argues that Clare's poetry reflects a deep personal and cultural struggle with concepts of home, nature, and socio-political changes such as enclosure, emphasizing the complex interplay between preservation and progress in the context of the rural landscape.