Anna Lombard: Victoria Cross

by Gail Cunningham (Pseudonym), Victoria Cross

Appearing in the final year of Victoria's reign, Anna Lombard captured many preoccupations of the fin-de-siecle period and pushed them beyond the bounds of Victorian acceptability towards the greater freedoms of the twentieth century. This hugely popular novel (thirty editions, six million copies sold) examines male and female sexuality, extending the notion of New Woman feminism and proposing a new masculinity to match it. Its transgressive interracial sexual and social relations are set in a highly eroticized Indian landscape and against the rigidities of Victorian imperialism. Anna Lombard challenges and subverts a wide range of the most fiercely defended ideologies of its time. For modern readers familiar with late Victorian conventions, it retains its power to surprise and shock, and extends our knowledge and understanding of the ways in which Victorian writers reflected and constructed social attitudes. For all readers, then as now, it is mesmerisingly readable. This new edition will extend understanding of women's writing of the period, and introduces a new generation of readers to the work of a once popular and continually engrossing novelist, Victoria Cross (a pen name of Annie Sophie Cory).

Genres: Victorian, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1901

Reviews

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

In giving Victoria Cross’ Anna Lombard four stars, I am faced with at least two problems. The reader will be handed a major dilemma in the form of a horrendous crime and left to decide how that crime colors everything they have read. The author, Annie Sophie Cory, Victoria Cross is one of her pen names, leaves the reader sole responsibility for figuring out how to deal with a lot of things. She writes her story, you deal. And the second problem is that one can admire the twists and turns of the plot, but stylistically she is not an author of great literature. Without going into specifics, this is not family friendly and not for the pre-teen. Not because of four letter words or on-the-page sweaty sex, but … take my word for it.

Ms Cory was the daughter of a British Officer from the Raj in India. She would have seen the racial prejudices of imperial colonialism. The book she produced is a huge contrast from others from this generation and experience.

Beginning with a very well-worn colonial romance, we are taken, in jarring steps away from expectations. Initially this could have been any number of White Man’s world colonial romances. Kipling among others wrote them by the volume. The one that goes: Colonial officer goes native and losses himself ‘consorting’ with native/half caste wives of convenience. Victoria Cross refuses to write to this expectation.

Female sexuality, done absent pornography, is just one part of where and what the reader will navigate..

This review already edges into spoiler territory. The four stars is for what was at the time almost an unprecedented plot. Note that when published, in 1901, Anna Lombard (the female protagonist and the general’s daughter) was considered a ‘New Woman’ and that is only one part of Ms Cross’ invention. It was also very widely read and a critical success. Recommended if only because I would like to hear from others about their take.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an assignment for a graduate class on gender & literature. It was my favorite so far from the class. There are a lot of similarities to Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" (one of my favorite novels) but there is an added context of colonialism. The Victorian time period is very intriguing to me, especially after reading this novel. For readers who are interested in concepts of intersectionality (specifically race, gender, and colonial power), this is a very good and quick read.

[Freddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is insane to me that this book sold SIX MILLION copies in the early 20th Century and was the most popular Victorian book and now hardly anyone reads it/knows it.

Then again, how many people are going to have read/know of 'Fifty Shades of Gray' in 100 years time? Having read it, I can see why it was so popular among the late Victorians, and also why it absolutely has not stood the test of time.

I was expecting it to be racier than it actually was; I guess the scandal comes from the affair/love triangle, which just feels pretty bog-standard in the 21st Century. The exoticism and Othering of the Far East was instead what I found particularly interesting, along with Cross' attempt to define a New Masculinity, or a New Man to accompany the New Woman of the late 19th Century. The relationship between Gaida and Gerald was interesting with regards to both of these facets, with his disgust at the baby but his appreciation of Gaida as almost 'superhuman' due to his physical build.

However, I feel like Cross' attempt at defining a New Masculinity was so hindered by Gerald being wetter than a soggy flannel; his character was almost embarrassing - particularly his jealousy at being replaced by a baby.

The reputation 'Anna Lombard' has as the 'Fifty Shades of Gray' of the Victorian era might leave you disappointed if you read it for sex, but it's interesting as a historical artefact of popular fiction nonetheless.

[Emma Perle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to be seduced by this Victorian 50
Shades of it’s day. Was disappointed whole
Book written from male protagonist’s viewpoint.
Twist at the end was DARK

[Hannah Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very good and very thought-provoking. I highly recommend this, especially if you are studying post-colonialism and women and gender studies.