– Explores the height of Victorian prosperity (symbolized by the Crystal Palace) alongside the growing sense of social alienation and doubt found in works like Dickens's Bleak House .
: The book doesn't just stick to the "golden age" of the novel; it provides detailed readings of poetry (Tennyson, the Brownings, Arnold), drama (Wilde), autobiography, and critical prose. A History of Victorian Literature (Blackwell Hi...
– Focuses on the rise of the industrial economy and how writers like Carlyle wrestled with "the unexampled times" and new social responsibilities. – Explores the height of Victorian prosperity (symbolized
: Adams analyzes literature in conjunction with major developments in science, religion, and politics, including the impact of Darwinism, the "Irish question," and the expansion of the British Empire. : Adams analyzes literature in conjunction with major
: Reviewers on Wiley and Victorian Web note that the book avoids dense academic jargon, opting instead for a "lively narrative" that uses case studies and anecdotes to bring the period to life. Why It Matters
Adams organizes the era into three distinct chronological blocks to capture the shifting cultural "milieu":