Victorian Babylon: People, Streets and Images in Nineteenth-Century London

by Lynda Nead

In this fascinating and innovative look at nineteenth-century London, Lynda Nead offers a new account of modernity and metropolitan life. She charts the relationship between London’s formation into a modern organized city in the 1860s and the emergence of new types of production and consumption of visual culture. She considers the role visual images played in the creation of a vibrant and diverse urban culture and how new kinds of publics were created for these representations. Shifting the focus of the history of modernity from Paris to London, Nead here argues for a different understanding of gender and public space in a society where women joined the everyday life of city streets and entered the debates concerning morality, spectacle, and adventure.
The book draws on texts and images of many kinds―including acts of Parliament, literature, newspaper reports, private letters, maps, paintings, advertisements, posters, and banned obscene publications. Taking a highly interdisciplinary approach, Nead explores such intriguing topics as the efforts of urban improvers to move water, air, traffic, goods, and people in the Victorian metropolis; the impact of gas lighting and glass on urban leisure; and the obscenity legislation that emerged in response to new forms of visual mass culture that were perceived as dangerous and pervasive.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Victorian, 19th Century, British Literature, College, Art

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great resource for learning about Victorian culture, especially the lesser known aspects of how certain things affected it. It was interesting reading about how city mapping and gas lamps ended up influencing a lot of change within society. The obscenity section was definitely the most fascinating section though.

The only reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars is that it was a little dry and dull in some places, but overall the information was pretty interesting.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Lynda Nead explores many unique, interesting, and fascinating aspects of Victorian England. Her research is impressive, her style is informative without being pedantic or dry and her conclusions offer both insight and open up a reader’s understanding of the people, streets, and images of nineteenth-century London.

If you read much Victorian Literature this is a book that would fit well into your bookcase. There are many insightful facets in Nead’s book. Originally, I turned to this book to learn more about how the coming of gaslight changed the city of London. Well, one thing lead to another and I found myself giving each section of the book a deep read. Fascinating.

The book also contains many informative and instructive illustrations.

All in all, if you enjoy Victorian history, literature, art, or culture this book deserves to be on your bookshelf.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting book. I do wonder if my twice great grandfather went to Cremore Gardens before it closed.