The Victorian World Picture: Perceptions and Introspections in an Age of Change /]Cdavid Newsome

by David Newsome

Book Overview

When did the Victorians come to regard themselves as "Victorians" and to use that term to describe the period in which they were living? David Newsome's monumental history takes a good, long look at the Victorian age and what distinguishes it so prominently in the history of both England and the world. The Victorian World Picture presents a vivid canvas of the Victorians as they saw themselves and as the rest of the world saw them.

The Victorian...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813527589
• ISBN13: 9780813527581
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The subtitle says it all

Newsome presents a highly readable overview of, as his subtitle puts it, Victorian "Perceptions and Introspections." The emphasis is on Victorian thought, as may be seen by the number of literary quotes that open chapters and dot the text. Those looking for a quick overview of Victorian life might be daunted by the thematic, rather than chronological, structure. Chapters, given broad amorphous titles like "Looking Inwards" and "Looking Beyond," range along the length of Victoria's reign in pursuit of the given theme. As no chronology is provided, some may find it hard to piece together all that was going on in a given time frame. What this book does do is provide a broad picture of the preoccupations, controversies and concerns of 19th century British thinkers, skillfully weaving in everything from Queen Victoria's letters to the ditties of Gilbert and Sullivan. Somewhat of an old-fashioned history (it reminded me of Walter Houghton's The Victorian Frame of Mind from the '50s), but well-crafted and pleasant to read.