Victorian literature

'Carlyle and Tennyson talked and smoked together.' by J. R. Skelton, 1920

Victorian literature is English literature during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901). The 19th century is considered by some the Golden Age of English Literature, especially for British novels.[1] In the Victorian era, the novel became the leading literary genre in English. English writing from this era reflects the major transformations in most aspects of English life, from scientific, economic, and technological advances to changes in class structures and the role of religion in society.[2] The number of new novels published each year increased from 100 at the start of the period to 1000 by the end of it.[3] Famous novelists from this period include Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, the three Brontë sisters, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), Thomas Hardy, and Rudyard Kipling.

The Romantic period was a time of abstract expression and inward focus; during the Victorian era, writers focused on social issues. Writers such as Thomas Carlyle called attention to the dehumanizing effects of the Industrial Revolution and what Carlyle called the "Mechanical Age".[4][5] This awareness inspired the subject matter of other authors, like poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning and novelists Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. Barrett's works on child labor cemented her success in a male-dominated world where women writers often had to use masculine pseudonyms.[6] Dickens employed humor and an approachable tone while addressing social problems such as wealth disparity.[7] Hardy used his novels to question religion and social structures.[8]

Poetry and theatre were also present during the Victorian era. Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson were Victorian England's most famous poets.[9] With regard to the theatre it was not until the last decades of the 19th century that any significant works were produced. Notable playwrights of the time include Gilbert and Sullivan, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde.[10]

  1. ^ The Golden Age of Literature, by Kinjal Parekh, September 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "Images of the Victorian book: Publishing - Introduction". www.bl.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ Common Library 1.0: A Corpus of Victorian Novels Reflecting the Population in Terms of Publication Year and Author Gender
  4. ^ "Victorian Literature - Literature Periods & Movements". www.online-literature.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Thomas Carlyle's "Signs of the Times"". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Elizabeth Barrett Browning". Poetry Foundation. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ^ Perdue, David A. "Charles Dickens' Novels". The Charles Dickens Page. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Thomas Hardy - Biography and Works. Search Texts, Read Online. Discuss". www.online-literature.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference victorianpoets was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Stedman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).