Iris Exiled: A Synoptic History of Wonder
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Overview
Iris Exiled is a critical history of wonder from the Bible and Homer to modern times. Dennis Quinn examines the subject in relation to various disciplines and modes of discourse- philosophy, theology, poetry, art myth, history, rhetoric, psychology, education, and modern science. Quinn shows that wonder, originally seen as the principle of philosophy and poetry and as a passion essential to the highest order of education, has been weakened by certain intellectual, cultural, and religious shifts during the past 600 years. The history is synoptic in two senses of the word: it is comprehensive but selective, and illustrative not exhaustive. Iris Exiled is presented from a single theoretical perspective, that of the original understanding of wonder as developed and set forth by such authors as Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Ruskin, and Joseph Pieper, as well as a host of other writers of all kinds and from all eras of western history.
Chapter 1 Forward
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Acknowledgments
Chapter 4 Iris Observed:
Chapter 5 The Name and Nature of Wonder
Chapter 6 Iris Regnant: Wonder in Classical Antiquity and the Christian Era:
Chapter 7 Youthful Wonder: The Greeks
Chapter 8 Mature Wonder: The Romans
Chapter 9 The Conversion of Wonder: The Christian Era
Chapter 10 Iris Usurped: Wonder in the Modern Age:
Chapter 11 The Early Modern Era
Chapter 12 The Enlightenment
Chapter 13 The Romantic Renaissance of Wonder
Chapter 14 The Later Nineteenth Century
Chapter 15 From Romance to Fantasy-and Beyond
Chapter 16 Iris in Exile:
Chapter 17 Modern Loyalists; Vive la Reigne!
Chapter 18 Bibliography
Chapter 19 Index
Chapter 20 Author Biographical Sketch
For readers interested in what a widely read and intelligent intellectual reactionary, not a pundit or a ‘culture warrior,’ thinks of the history of Western culture and how it relates to our current predicaments, ‘Iris Exiled’ is a good way to find out.
Quinn nimbly traverses the historical developments about wonder, persuasively argues his philosophical position, and trenchantly analyzes and interprets as a literary critic. In the end, he has written a fascinating study. I encourage one to read his book: It is the next best thing to matriculating at Kansas University and learning from the master teacher directly.
Quinn nimbly traverses the historical developments about wonder, persuasively argues his philosophical position, and trenchantly analyzes and interprets as a literary critic. In the end, he has written a fascinating study. I encourage one to read his book: It is the next best thing to matriculating at Kansas University and learning from the master teacher directly.
For readers interested in what a widely read and intelligent intellectual reactionary, not a pundit or a ‘culture warrior,’ thinks of the history of Western culture and how it relates to our current predicaments, ‘Iris Exiled’ is a good way to find out.
- Title: Iris Exiled: A Synoptic History of Wonder
- Author: Dennis Quinn
- Publisher: University Press of America
- Print Publication Date: 2002
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 364
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781461683292, 9780761821786, 0761821783, 1461683297
- Resource ID: LLS:9781461683292
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T04:16:24Z
Dennis Quinn is Professor of English at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.