Understanding the Victorians

by Susie L. Steinbach

Understanding the Victorians paints a vivid portrait of an era of dramatic change, combining broad survey with close analysis and introducing students to the critical debates on the nineteenth century taking place among historians today. The volume encompasses all of Great Britain and Ireland over the whole of the Victorian period and gives prominence to social and cultural topics alongside politics and economics and emphasizes class, gender, and racial and imperial positioning as constitutive of human relations. This third edition is fully updated with new chapters on emotion and on Britain’s relationship with Europe as well as added discussions of architecture, technology, and the visual arts. Attention to the current concerns and priorities of professional historians also enables readers to engage with today’s historical debates. Starting with the Queen Caroline Affair in 1820 and coming up to the start of World War I in 1914, thematic chapters explore the topics of space, politics, Europe, the empire, the economy, consumption, class, leisure, gender, the monarchy, the law, arts and entertainment, sexuality, religion, and science. With a clear introduction outlining the key themes of the period, a detailed timeline, and suggestions for further reading and relevant internet resources, this is the ideal companion for all students of the nineteenth century. Discover more from Susie by exploring our forthcoming Routledge Historical resource on British Society, edited by Susie L. Steinbach and Martin Hewitt. Find out more about our Routledge Historical resources by visiting

416 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[Sam Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for HIST 423:

Can confirm that this book was not entirely finished, but all in all it was a solid book. I enjoyed that it was more of a cultural history rather than a specific historical perspective throughout the entire book. I prefer this book to Wasson, but beggars cannot be choosers. All in all, a 3 Stars.

Walked into class when discussing chapters 13 and 15 and all I could sing was, “Let’s talk about sexy baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things, and the bad things, sec my bring. Let’s talk about sex.”