Robert Bage (novelist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bage was an English businessman and novelist.
Born in Darley Abbey
, near Derby, Bage was the son of a paper-maker and was himself a papier. For a time he lived in Elford
, Staffordshire. It was not until he was 53 that he took to literature; but in the 15 years following he produced six novels, of which Sir Walter Scott said that "strong mind, playful fancy, and extensive knowledge are everywhere apparent." Scott included Mount Henneth (1781), Barham Downs (1784), and James Wallace (1792) in his series of Ballantyne novels.
Bage was brought up as a Quaker
, but he became a philosophical and religious radical after the French Revolution
. He advocated democracy and equality (the abolition of the peerage), as well as the abolition of institutional religion. A member of the Derby Philosophical Society
, he was also associated with the Lunar Society of Birmingham.
The work for which he is chiefly read today is Hemsprong, his last novel. Although regarded as radical at the time, the novel is somewhat disjointed. The first section of the novel is a wit novel with a strong philosophical content. However, it then turns to a sentimental novel
form and follows a romance. The philosophical challenge of the novel is that it concerns an American who has been raised entirely by American Indians
, without either formal education or religion. With only nature to teach him, he sees through the hypocrisy of society and English manners. It is notable for pursuing the theme of the noble savage
and, in particular, nativism. When the novel exchanges social satire for a love story, however, it loses any power to debunk educational and classist abuses.
Born in Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
, near Derby, Bage was the son of a paper-maker and was himself a papier. For a time he lived in Elford
Elford
Elford is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It is situated on the east bank of the River Tame, about east of the City of Lichfield and 5 miles north of Tamworth.-Origins:...
, Staffordshire. It was not until he was 53 that he took to literature; but in the 15 years following he produced six novels, of which Sir Walter Scott said that "strong mind, playful fancy, and extensive knowledge are everywhere apparent." Scott included Mount Henneth (1781), Barham Downs (1784), and James Wallace (1792) in his series of Ballantyne novels.
Bage was brought up as a Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, but he became a philosophical and religious radical after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. He advocated democracy and equality (the abolition of the peerage), as well as the abolition of institutional religion. A member of the Derby Philosophical Society
Derby Philosophical Society
The Derby Philosophical Society was a club for gentleman in Derby founded in 1783 by Erasmus Darwin. The club had many notable members and also offered the first institutional library in Derby that was available to some section of the public.-History:...
, he was also associated with the Lunar Society of Birmingham.
The work for which he is chiefly read today is Hemsprong, his last novel. Although regarded as radical at the time, the novel is somewhat disjointed. The first section of the novel is a wit novel with a strong philosophical content. However, it then turns to a sentimental novel
Sentimental novel
The sentimental novel or the novel of sensibility is an 18th century literary genre which celebrates the emotional and intellectual concepts of sentiment, sentimentalism, and sensibility...
form and follows a romance. The philosophical challenge of the novel is that it concerns an American who has been raised entirely by American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, without either formal education or religion. With only nature to teach him, he sees through the hypocrisy of society and English manners. It is notable for pursuing the theme of the noble savage
Noble savage
The term noble savage , expresses the concept an idealized indigene, outsider , and refers to the literary stock character of the same...
and, in particular, nativism. When the novel exchanges social satire for a love story, however, it loses any power to debunk educational and classist abuses.