Since the Romantics culture has been identified with the promise of a complete development of human capacities and, typically, the 'rise of English' has been viewed in terms of the (true or distorted) fulfilment of this promise in the education system. This book presents a sustained and historically informed challenge to that view.

IAN HUNTER is Lecturer in Humanities at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. He took his first degree, in English and history, at La Trobe University. He has published numerous articles in a variety of learned journals.

Preface - Acknowledgements - Introduction - PART 1 ENGLISH - Government - Culture - English - PART 2 CRITICISM - Two Models - The Pedagogical Imperative - Exemplary Knowledge - Conclusion - Notes - Bibliography - Index