The Victorians: An Age in Retrospect

(Paperback)

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Who were the Victorians Were they self-confident imperialists secure in the virtues of the home, and ruled by the values of authority, duty, religion and respectability Or were they self-doubting and hypocritical prudes whose family life was authoritarian and loveless Ever since Lytton Strachey mocked Florence Nightingale and General Gordon in Eminent Victorians, the reputation of the Victorians, and of what they stood for, has been the subject of vigorous debate. John Gardiner provides a fascinating guide to the changing reputation of the Victorians during the 20th century, and explores how different social, political, and aesthetic values, two World Wars, youth culture, nostalgia, new historical trends and the heritage industry have all affected the way we see the age and its men and women. The second half of the book shows how radically biographical accounts have changed over the last hundred years, exemplified by four archetypical Victorians: Charles Dickens, W.E. Gladstone, Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria herself.

Reviews

an excellent, though ambitious idea...Gardiner demonstrates an intelligence, touch and subtlety and breadth of command that makes this book a pleasure to read' ~ Times Literary Supplement

Author Bio

John Gardiner graduated with a First in History from Peterhouse, Cambridge before undertaking postgraduate research at the University of Kent at Canterbury. He has written about a number of subjects in nineteenth and twentieth-century history. In 2004 he was awarded the Carfax-IAMHIST Prize for his article on the life and music of Edward Elgar.