Victorian Age

Table of Contents
1. Victorian Age (1837-1901)
2. Introduction to the Condition of England Question
3. Realism in 19th Century Literature
4. Prominent Novelists of the Era
5. The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge
6. Barnaby Rudge
7. Dombey and Son
8. David Copperfield
9. Bleak House
10. Hard Times: For These Times (1854)
11. A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
12. Great Expectations (1861)
13. Major Short Stories
14. Christmas Books
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Victorian Age (1837-1901)

Victorian Sensation

The Victorian Age, spanning from 1837 to 1901, marked a period of immense wealth, growth, and transformation in England. This era began with the coronation of Queen Victoria and is often regarded as the pinnacle of English history. The success of this period can be attributed to various factors, including the Industrial Revolution, scientific advancements, and technological innovations such as the steam engine and electricity. Additionally, there were significant improvements in education and the rise of democracy.

During the Victorian Age, literature, particularly novels, flourished. Authors of this time vividly captured the societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. As literacy rates increased and discussions on literary and philosophical topics became more common, there was a growing interest in realistic stories that resonated with middle-class readers.

The era witnessed the emergence of various types of novels, with writers aiming to reflect the interests and concerns of their audience. Notably, the period saw significant movements advocating for the abolition of slavery and reforms in child labour laws, driven by the influence of writers and thinkers.

Sensational Novels

• Sensational novels emerged as a prominent literary genre in England during the 1860s and 1870s.
• These novels were heavily influenced by the Gothic genre and often centred around themes of melodrama and the lives of criminals, drawing particular inspiration from Newgate prison.
• The popularity of sensational novels was fueled by the expanding book market, a growing readership, and the societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution.
• These stories frequently carried allegorical meanings, delving into anxieties related to identity.
• Notable examples of sensational novels include:
• The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1859-60)
• East Lynne by Ellen (Mrs. Henry) Wood (1861)
• Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1862)
• Sensational novels are often described as 'novels-with-a-secret,' captivating readers with their intriguing plots and mysterious elements.

Introduction to the Condition of England Question

Victorian Disparity

The term "Condition of England Question" was coined by Thomas Carlyle in his 1839 work Chartism. It refers to a genre of narrative fiction known as industrial novels, social novels, or social problem novels. These were published in Victorian England during and after the economic difficulties of the 1840s.

These novels focused on the social issues of the time, particularly examining the dynamics of class, gender, and labor. They highlighted the social unrest and the growing divide between the rich and the poor in England.

Notable Condition-of-England Novels

• Benjamin Disraeli: Coningsby and Sybil
• Elizabeth Gaskell: Mary Barton and North and South
• Charles Dickens: Dombey and Son and Hard Times
• Charlotte Brontë: Shirley
• Charles Kingsley: Alton Locke and Yeast

Realism in 19th Century Literature

19th-century writers rejected the artificial styles of Classicism and Romanticism prevalent in academies. They emphasized the need to reflect contemporary realities in their art, aiming to depict the lives, appearances, and customs of the middle and lower classes. Their focus was on the ordinary and unembellished aspects of life.

Accurate Representation of Contemporary Life

• Writers aimed to portray all facets of modern life and society that had been previously overlooked.
• This included mental attitudes, physical environments, and material conditions.
• Despite rising wealth, the gap between the rich and poor was widening.
• Novelists sought to capture this hidden disparity behind the visible wealth.

Prominent Novelists of the Era

Victorian Social Critique

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Dickens, born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, to a clerk, is often regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His early life was marked by hardship when his father was imprisoned for debt, and the family, except for Dickens, accompanied him. To support himself, Dickens worked in a warehouse before embarking on a career in journalism, where he wrote about London life for The Morning Chronicle under the pen name Boz. His literary journey took him to America, where he gained immense popularity as a novelist. Unfortunately, his last work, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, remained unfinished at the time of his death. Throughout his career, Dickens explored themes such as arranged marriages, child cruelty, betrayal, and deceit, as well as the intricate relationships between different social classes.

Major Novels

• Pickwick Papers (1837): Samuel Pickwick, the founder of the Pickwick Club, is the central figure in this novel, which draws inspiration from a series of 'cockney sporting plates' illustrated by Robert Seymour. A key character is Sam Weller, who works in an inn and is known for his humorous way of speaking, later coined as Wellerism.
• The Adventures of Oliver Twist (1838): Parish Boy's Progress is the subtitle of this novel that tells the story of an orphan boy born in a workhouse. After being sold as an apprentice, he escapes to London, where he becomes involved in crime through a gang member named Artful Dodger, under the influence of the criminal Fagin. The novel serves as a critique of the 1834 Poor Law and highlights the appalling conditions of London workhouses, earning it the classification of a Newgate novel.

The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge

Curious Victorian Shop

The Old Curiosity Shop was serialized in Master Humphrey's Clock along with Barnaby Rudge. The story follows Little Nell and her grandfather living in a small shop in London. Queen Victoria found the novel interesting when she read it.

Barnaby Rudge

• Barnaby Rudge is Dickens' first historical novel, subtitled A Tale of the Riots of Eighty.
• Barnaby Rudge is a simpleton who travels with his talkative raven, Grip.
• Grip is known to have inspired Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, The Raven.

Dombey and Son

• The novel revolves around a shipping firm owner who is disappointed by the absence of a male heir.
• He initially rejects his daughter's affection but eventually reconciles with her before his passing.
• The serialization of the novel included illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne, who was popularly known as Phiz.

David Copperfield

• The full title of the novel is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery.
• The story includes autobiographical elements, drawing parallels between the lives of Dickens and David.
• It is written in the form of a Bildungsroman and features important characters like Mr Micawber, Steerforth, little Emily, Uriah Heep, and Betsey Trotwood.
• Other significant characters include members of the Peggotty family.

Bleak House

• The narrative is presented by an all-knowing narrator and the main character, Esther Summerson.
• The plot centres around the protracted legal case, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, in the court of Chancery.
• A significant aspect of the story is Esther's quest to uncover her true identity.
• One chapter of the book discusses the construction of railways.
• The atmosphere is shrouded in mystery due to the presence of fog, making it difficult to see clearly.

8. Hard Times: For These Times (1854)

Coketown Shadows

• Unlike Dickens' other novels, this one is set outside London, in the made-up city of Coketown, which is based on the real industrial city of Manchester.
• The novel was published in parts in Dickens' magazine Household Words and is divided into three sections: Sowing, Reaping, and Garnering.
• The story focuses on the dehumanization of the working class, referred to as 'Hands,' and criticizes the lifeless and harsh utilitarian beliefs that strip away individuality.
• The book begins with the famous line by Thomas Gradgrind : 'Now what I want is fact, fact, and facts.'

9. A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

• Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, this historical novel follows Doctor Manette, who is released from the Bastille after 18 years of wrongful imprisonment.
• Upon his release, he reunites with his daughter, Lucie, whom he had never met before.
• The story delves into themes of resurrection, sacrifice, love, revolution, and social injustice.
• It opens with the iconic line: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'
• The novel is divided into three parts: Recalled to Life, The Golden Thread, and The Track of a Storm.

10. Great Expectations (1861)

• First published in Dickens' weekly magazine All the Year Round, this coming-of-age story follows Pip from his impoverished childhood through his encounters with the peculiar Miss Havisham and his infatuation with her adopted daughter, Estella.
• Pip's journey includes receiving support from a mysterious benefactor who funds his education in London.
• Themes of love, poverty, and rejection are central to the narrative.
• The story begins in Kent with a famous scene in a graveyard where Pip meets the escaped convict Abel Magwitch, who later becomes his benefactor.
• Although initially criticized by Thomas Carlyle as 'Pip nonsense', the novel was later praised by George Bernard Shaw for its consistent truthfulness.
• The book inspired the Bollywood film Fitoor.
• Throughout the story, the recurring fog symbolizes Pip's ongoing uncertainty and confusion.

Major Short Stories

Timeless Festivity

Here are some notable works:

• Master Humphrey's Clock
• A Holiday Romance
• A Message from the Sea
• Mugby Junction
• Doctor Marigold
• Sketches of a Young Couple
• Mudfog and Other Sketches

Christmas Books

Here are some notable works:

• A Christmas Carol (1843)
• The Chimes (1844)
• The Cricket and the Hearth (1845)
• The Battle of Life (1846)
• The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (1848)