A N Wilson's The Victorians was first published in 2003. Well-received by the critics, one reviewer even went so far as to call it 'the best single-volume work on the Victorian age yet written'.
A N Wilson
The author is not an academic in the sense that he does not work at a university: indeed, this has been highlighted as being positively in the book's favour. He is, however, highly respected in the fields of literature and journalism, having published several novels and literary biographies. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the period shines through the entertaining and informative writing; The Victorians is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about this era without feeling as though they are reading a textbook. Not only is The Victorians accessible to those who are newly interested in the history of Britain in the 19th Century, it also provides a refreshingly new angle on the period for seasoned Victorian enthusiasts.
The Decades of Queen Victoria's Reign
The book is arranged in six parts, each dealing with a specific decade of Queen Victoria's reign. Some chapter headings within each part refer explicitly to certain events in history, such as Famine in Ireland, The Great Exhibition and The Crimean War. Each of these is told with a simplicity and clarity that belies the depth of knowledge that is revealed. The human suffering that is attendant on so much of the history of this period is told with a poignancy that sharpens the reader's understanding of the misery endured by so many.
Other chapters allude to rather more general concepts such as The Plight of the Poor and The Age of School. Individuals and movements are sometimes linked to excellent effect, as, for example, in the chapter, Marx - Ruskin - Pre-Raphaelites.
The Victorians is written with such style that it is probably best read and enjoyed from cover to cover. However, for readers who wish to cross reference names, places and events, 50 pages of meticulous indexing ensure that this can be done with ease.
Modern Day Interpretation of History
The blurb states that Wilson pieces together the stories of an array of many lives, some more well-known than others, 'to tell a story - one which is still unfinished in our own day.' His knack of seamlessly relating the events of a bygone time to present day experiences lends a certain vitality to our understanding of our own time.
This is clearly exemplified in the example of Wilson's slick, concise critique of Harriet Martineau, the journalist and social commentator. Having already described her writing as 'wordy, authoritative [and] cliché-ridden', Wilson continues; 'she had the know-all tone which so often wins journalism wide readership…like many of her modern equivalents, she had all the right views.'
The final chapter of The Victorians, having focused on the intricacies and fascinating anecdotes surrounding the death of Queen Victoria, ends with ominous hints referring to the events in Europe that would unfold in the early 20th Century and usher in a new epoch in history.
The Victorians by A N Wilson is published by Arrow Books, ISBN 0-09-945186-7
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