Charles Montague Doughty: his life and works

Kaddal, Mohamed A.M. (1962) Charles Montague Doughty: his life and works. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Doughty's popular fame depends still on one prose-book, but his poetry is still neglected by the majority and ignored by a large section or those who know. To redress the balance and put the whole in perspective, this thesis
begins by discussing minutely his roots in East Anglia, his family background and his school and university days. Here for the first time a list of his father's library books and a rare early poem written by the young Doughty in Cambridge are used to prove that contemporary literature was in Doughty's mind, when he reacted against the facile ways of literary expression and the immorality in literary circles. That reaction is shown to have decided his future career. His studies after that in earlier literature are traced minutely, and their certain fruits shown in the turns of his thought and the new ideals in lire in general and in
literature in particular. When he left to the Continent in 1870, he is shown to have reached the mature stable basis of everything that one finds in all his prose and poetry. In general his attitude was one of reaction against the Nineteenth Century and an attempt to bring back the vigour of patriotism and the liveliness of the literature of Renaissance and Elizabethan England. With the Nineteenth Century as a basis, and the Renaissance as an ideal, a pattern is laid for a detailed study of different problems based on the various Doughty works. Each book is looked at mainly from one angle, although the other different sides of the work are not neglected. Doughty's attitude towards
Islam, Arabia and the Arabs is shown to be a result and a continuation of the orthodox Christian European attitude through the ages. So follows a historical study of that background in European thought and English Literature from the earliest times to the Nineteenth Century. An objective unemotional attempt to defend Islam and the Arabs follow. Then the linguistic side of the problem, the influence of Arabia on the style of 'Arabia Deserta' is studied,
and Doughty's knowledge of Arabic is assessed. 'The Darn in Britain' gives us the chance to study Doughty's knowledge of and ideas on the epic form. 'Adam Cast Forth' provides an opportunity for studying all the sources or the beautiful
legend, and of Doughty'a usage Of these sources. 'The Cliffs' provides an opportunity for a study of Doughty's ideas on the contemporary scone and his solutions for the problems of today. 'The Clouds' is used to study the discursive rambling all inclusive 'form' of Doughty's works. 'The Titans' is Doughty's nearest poem to his geological studies, so Doughty's scientific ideas and their imaginative expression are dealt with. 'Mansoul' is his last message.
Consequently his belief in the doctrine of the 'Inspired Poet', his belief in Man, his hope in the future of humanity, and his philosophy of virtue and love, his Religion and his humanism are studied. 'The Conclusion' follows, with an apology for the great length necessary to deal with the mind, ways and works of this voluminous poet.
In an appendix the list of books at Theberton Hall Library
in, given and in another that rare poem at his young days "The Lay of the Long One".
All through the thesis, Doughty's manuscript Word-Notes, Book-Notes, and letters and all the books written the various scholars and critics on his works are used to get a better understanding of his thought and his books in this
panoramic survey, of his life and works. `

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PR English literature
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities
• Supervisor's Name: Supervisor, not known
• Date of Award: 1962
• Depositing User: Ms Mary Anne Meyering
• Unique ID: glathesis:1962-5059
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2014 14:32
• Last Modified: 26 Mar 2014 14:18
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/5059