Download or read book The Flirt's Tragedy written by Richard A. Kaye and published by University of Virginia Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examining British, French, and American novels, Kaye (English, Hunter College of the City U. of New York) argues that flirtatious eros in late-18th and early-19th century texts is a largely unexplored, distinct realm of experience. Flirtation in these novels suggests that the aim of desire is not the realization of desire by rather deferral itself. Flirting represented a reckless adventurism that violates middle-class aspirations and interests. The lack of a thorough examination by critical theorists of this vital part of Victorian and Edwardian literature is blamed on a dominating methodology in the field based on the ideas of Michel Foucault. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR