'On a shiny night' : the representation of the English poacher, c.1830-1920
This thesis examines the representation of the English poacher from around the time of the reform to the Game Laws in 1831 to the ending of the First World War. Although a considerable body of work exists on nineteenth-century poaching, its representational aspects have yet to be fully explored. Moreover, existing studies have had little to say on poaching in the early years of the twentieth century. Set against the backdrop of the Edwardian Land Question the poacher, or more properly the idea of him, carried a far greater resonance than has been allowed for. Drawing on a wide range of literary and visual material, the work in hand offers a number of fresh perspectives on a significant figure in English culture and society. Chapter One considers the evolution of poacher representations from c.1830 to the next round of Game Law reform in 1880. The poacher of these years was largely defined by what he was against and made victim of. By the end of this period, however, representations of the poacher were clearly starting to show more positive aspects. The next two chapters focus on the years between 1880 and 1900. Chapter Two provides context by examining the growingly heated politics of the land-game nexus and
Ridgwell, Stephen John
DA550 Victorian era ; 1837-1901 ; DA566 20th century ; SK Hunting sports
'On a shiny night' : the representation of the English poacher, c.1830-1920. This thesis examines the representation of the English poacher from around the time of the reform to the Game Laws in 1831 to the ending of the First World War. Although a considerable body of work exists on nineteenth-century poaching, its representational aspects have yet to be fully explored. Moreover, existing studies have had little to say on poaching in the early years of the twentieth century. Set against the backdrop of the Edwardian Land Question the poacher, or more properly the idea of him, carried a far greater resonance than has been allowed for. Drawing on a wide range of literary and visual material, the work in hand offers a number of fresh perspectives on a significant figure in English culture and society. Chapter One considers the evolution of poacher representations from c.1830 to the next round of Game Law reform in 1880. The poacher of these years was largely defined by what he was against and made victim of. By the end of this period, however, representations of the poacher were clearly starting to show more positive aspects. The next two chapters focus on the years between 1880 and 1900. Chapter Two provides context by examining the growingly heated politics of the land-game nexus and
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