Description

Victorian literature refers to English literature during Queen Victoria's reign (1837ñ1901), a period considered the Golden Age of English Literature, especially for novels. The novel became the leading literary genre, reflecting major societal transformations, including scientific, economic, and technological advances, as well as shifts in class structure and religion. Key novelists include Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, the BrontÎ sisters, George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, and Rudyard Kipling. Notable poets were Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson, while significant playwrights emerged in the late 19th century, including Gilbert and Sullivan, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde. As reading became more accessible, periodicals flourished, offering news, essays, poetry, and fiction in monthly installments. These serials launched the careers of prominent writers like Dickens, Eliot, Tennyson, and the Brownings. Victorian literature, being pervasive, offers insights into the era's attitudes and concerns. The book also introduces English drama, enlightening students on its historical background.