Hilliard (English, University of Richmond) uncovers mythic maternal themes in British novels written 1740-1820. He argues that in both tragic tales, such as Richardson's Clarissa, or comic ones
like Fielding's Tom Jones there is a repeating topos of the loss of the "good mother" by death or separation and persecution by an "evil mother". This often is linked to images of oral
incorporation and cannibalism. Much of the book is a comparative study demonstrating his points. Hilliard also suggests that the permanent loss of the "good mother" is more common in stories by
men whereas female writers tend to close with a reunification with the mother or the ideals she represents. Distributed by Associated University Presses. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc.,
Portland, OR (booknews.com)
