The Victorian World: A Historical Exploration of Literature

(Hardback)

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Description

An indispensable resource for readers investigating Victorian literature and culture, this book offers a comprehensive summary of the historical, social, political, and cultural contexts of Victorian England. The Victorian era was a time of great social, scientific, and cultural change. The literary works of that period reflect that change and help us to better understand the Victorian world. This book examines the historical, political, social, and cultural contexts of several important Victorian literary works: Jane Eyre,, by Charlotte Bront; Wuthering Heights,, by Emily Bront; A Tale of Two Cities,, by Charles Dickens; and several poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, including "The Cry of the Children," "The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim's Point," "A Curse for a Nation," and Aurora Leigh.. The volume provides historical explanations, literary analyses, and cultural context for each literary work, including primary documents from the nineteenth century. Topics investigated include women's rights, workers' rights, education reforms, marriage laws, race relations, inheritance and heredity, and other issues concerning gender, race, and class in the nineteenth century. Readers will gain a greater understanding of these major literary works as well as their historical context.

Reviews

The book is no cursory, indulgent glimpse into Victorian literature. Rather, the author skillfully and methodically scaffolds the raison d'tre of the selected works with historical background, pertinent legal documents and primary sourcesHighly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. * Choice *
Academic and high school libraries will find this text quite useful for English literature classes studying the 19th century. Public libraries should also consider it for their patrons. * ARBA *

Author Bio

Anne DeLong, PhD, is associate professor of English at Kutztown University.