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Chapter 26 - Orientalism

from Part III - Literary Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  aN Invalid Date NaN

By
Eun Kyung Min
Edited by
Michael Griffin  and
David O'Shaughnessy
Michael Griffin
Affiliation:
University of Limerick
David O'Shaughnessy
Affiliation:
University of Galway
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Summary

Why was Oliver Goldsmith interested in the Orient? Specifically what parts of the Orient was he most interested in? Where did he obtain his information about the Orient? How did he modify his sources and what is distinctive about his literary uses of the Orient? Although critics have accused Goldsmith variously of fabricating an imaginary and exotic Orient, exploiting the Orient merely for satirical uses, and being sick of Oriental fads, this chapter argues that Goldsmith’s interest in the Orient was intellectual as well as imaginative, serious, and playful at the same time. The chapter focuses on Goldsmith’s most extensive engagement with the Orient in The Citizen of the World, but also examines his discussions of the Orient in his book reviews, theater reviews, periodical publications, and his more extensive historical and geographical writings.

Keywords

The Citizen of the WorldOrientalismtravel writingChinaMarquis d’Argens
Type
Chapter
Information
Oliver Goldsmith in Context , pp. 218 - 227
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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