Esoteric-Orientalist Elements in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. The Nexus of Gothic and Cultural Studies

“This work superbly reexamines classic texts… in a postmodern light… Through its distinctively novel point of departure and interdisciplinary nature of analysis, harmoniously weaving orientalism, Cultural studies, postmodernism, Esotericism, philosophy and psychology, Professor Nadya Chishty-Mujahid adds yet another distinctive feat to her unique intellectual trajectory.”
-Eman El-Meligi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English Literature,
Damanhur University, Egypt

“Dr. Chishty-Mujahid has expressed a sound knowledge of the various connections between general fields of cultural studies. Her book is well-written and the documentation is good. As a professor of psychology myself, I hope she decides to experiment with literature and psychology in the future, because I do not have any doubts that her efforts will be welcomed by like-minded scholars. By writing this book on Austen, Orientalism, etc. she has already demonstrated a unique ability to handle interdisciplinary demands and concerns.”
-Dr. Zeenat Ismail,
Professor of Psychology,
The Institute of Business Administration,
Karachi, Pakistan

“I am pleased to have perused yet another wonderful book by Dr. Chishty-Mujahid. By this point I am genuinely impressed by the length and breadth of her diversity in being able to tackle challenging material. Not all of us are equipped to write elegantly about diverse topics such as Northanger Abbey, the Tarot Fool and Oriental aspects of Cultural studies, but this dedicated academic has certainly managed to do so. I recommend the book to both young scholars and experts because Dr. Chishty-Mujahid’s readable style is palatable and enjoyable.”
-Dr. Saiyad Nizamuddin Ahmad,
The American University in Cairo, Egypt

FOREWORD by Eman El-Meligi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS / INTRODUCTION
Chapter I: THE DEVIL’S ALTERNATIVE:
ORIENTALISM AND ACADEMIC BRANCHES OF CULTURAL STUDIES
-Introduction: Jeff Kripal’s position relative to the field of Indology
-Wouter Hanegraaff’s stance regarding Kripal’s work
-Kripal’s motivations for entering western esotericist scholarship
-Orientalist aspects of western esotericism
-Conclusion: Faivre’s stance regarding inclusivity
CHAPTER II: COMPARATIVE ASPECTS OF THE MUTUS LIBER THAT CONSTITUTES THE TAROT FOOL
-Introduction: the Tarot as “document,” and the importance of Antoine Faivre’s work and theories to esotericism
-Historical criticism of the tarot Fool with special reference to its positioning
-The Tarot Harlequin
-The application of the Faivrian paradigm to the Tarot Fool: a Cultural studies experiment
Conclusion
CHAPTER III: SITUATING NORTHANGER ABBEY AT THE NEXUS OF GOTHIC AND CULTURAL STUDIES
-Introduction: Joan Austen-Leigh’s postmodern Visit to Highbury
-Northanger Abbey and the problem of placement
-Austen’s defense of the novel form
-The general and specific importance of Catherine Morland in determining the novel’s academic status
-Catherine as Northanger Abbey’s chief jester
-Conclusion: Austen’s novel as a postmodern critical nexus
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

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