"[So completely transformed were] the mind and habits of the ordinary Englishman. . . that he would not, could he see him, recognize his own grandfather." - Walter Besant
Political Turmoil
Napoleonic Wars were not over until 1815
Years of Revolution and potantial revoltuion followed
The Crimean War
The Woman Question
The Upper & Middle Class
being refined meant a woman worked hard to do nothing
focus on social visits, needlework, reading, charity work, or no work
education: art and dance
The Lower Class
part of the working force
The "New Woman"
1880's-1890's
sought equal moral/sexual standards
more sensible clothes
Topic
sought professions
civil service
nursing
shops
offices
Urbanization
Causes
1800 England still largely agrarian
Enclosure Act
Industrialism
Expansion
Transportation
Con's
crowding
pollution
fog
typhoid
cholera
Pro's
indoor plumbing
telegraph
telephone
Other Names
Age of Earnestness
Age of Respectabliity
Age of Evangelicals
Age of Expansion
Historical Context
Named after Queen Victoria
ruled for 60 years
Beginning
Either in 1832 with the First Reform Bill
or 1837 with the coronation of Victoria
Ending
1901 with Victoria's death
definitely by WWI
Authors
Tennyson
Poet Laureate
Said to embody the Victorian
borrowing from Homer to describe the ideal Victorian gentleman
"In Memorium"
written on the death of best friend, Athur Hallum, who died in his 20s