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Life in Victorian England
Here, the eminent historian Christopher Hibbert explores life in Victorian England, a time when the British Empire was at its height, when the prosperous English basked in the Pax Britannica and thought their progress and stability would go on forever.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2016
173 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hibbert
144 books315 followersChristopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS (5 March 1924 - 21 December 2008) was an English writer, historian and biographer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of many books, including Disraeli, Edward VII, George IV, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, and Cavaliers and Roundheads.
Described by Professor Sir John Plumb as "a writer of the highest ability and in the New Statesman as "a pearl of biographers," he established himself as a leading popular historian/biographer whose works reflected meticulous scholarship.
Described by Professor Sir John Plumb as "a writer of the highest ability and in the New Statesman as "a pearl of biographers," he established himself as a leading popular historian/biographer whose works reflected meticulous scholarship.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 10, 2017
For anyone wishing to gain knowledge on life during Victorian times, you can’t do wrong by starting with this book. The author, Christopher Hibbert, has separated the chapters sensibly, allowing us to learn about the aristocracy, the middle and lower classes, workers, underworld characters and prisons, as well as other areas. Each of these chapters deal extensively with the people and their income, their living quarters (and servants, if they had them), and how they interacted with others living at the same time.
The author consistently draws upon letters and diaries, allowing the reader to experience Victorian life “first-hand” through the eyes of people living in era. These entries breathed life into the book. The only thing lacking was the omission of a list of sources.
Overall, this is an interesting book that will entertain readers while allowing a view into the yesterday of Victorian England. Four stars.
The author consistently draws upon letters and diaries, allowing the reader to experience Victorian life “first-hand” through the eyes of people living in era. These entries breathed life into the book. The only thing lacking was the omission of a list of sources.
Overall, this is an interesting book that will entertain readers while allowing a view into the yesterday of Victorian England. Four stars.
June 11, 2019
An interesting, if somewhat brief and cursory overview of the topic. Chapters consider the various social classes, transportation, crime, religion, etc. Fine for someone with just a passing interest; not particularly satisfying for anyone looking for a more in-depth treatment.
May 17, 2020
If you're looking for a very broad overview of the Victorian era, this isn't a bad option, but this was definitely not worth the cost. However, I found it too general to be of much use. I've read a few books on the subject, and this was by far the least informative.
One of the biggest issues with the book (besides the fact that there are no citations or bibliography) is that it rarely specifies what part of the Victorian era being discussed. This is a nearly 70 year period during a time of massive scientific, economic, political, and social upheaval, but too often, the author doesn't reference if he's describing early, mid, or late Victorian era. It makes it rather useless as a research reference and reads more like a Wikipedia entry on various subjects within the era.
And I find it hilarious that things like the Chartist movement, the Great Hunger, Corn Laws, and other majorly important aspects of the era that shaped the country were glossed over or ignored completely, but the author did spend a significant portion of one chapter discussing prostitution and sexual appetites. I know you can't cover everything in one single book, but really? You choose to focus so much time on that and overlook other more interesting things?
The book really read more like a school paper, which made it easy to get through and somewhat engaging, but it's not a good reference guide to people who are looking for a true scholarly and detailed picture of the era. I would recommend looking at "The Victorian City" by Judith Flanders or "How to be a Victorian" by Ruth Goodman. Both of those are far more extensive looks at Victorian life.
One of the biggest issues with the book (besides the fact that there are no citations or bibliography) is that it rarely specifies what part of the Victorian era being discussed. This is a nearly 70 year period during a time of massive scientific, economic, political, and social upheaval, but too often, the author doesn't reference if he's describing early, mid, or late Victorian era. It makes it rather useless as a research reference and reads more like a Wikipedia entry on various subjects within the era.
And I find it hilarious that things like the Chartist movement, the Great Hunger, Corn Laws, and other majorly important aspects of the era that shaped the country were glossed over or ignored completely, but the author did spend a significant portion of one chapter discussing prostitution and sexual appetites. I know you can't cover everything in one single book, but really? You choose to focus so much time on that and overlook other more interesting things?
The book really read more like a school paper, which made it easy to get through and somewhat engaging, but it's not a good reference guide to people who are looking for a true scholarly and detailed picture of the era. I would recommend looking at "The Victorian City" by Judith Flanders or "How to be a Victorian" by Ruth Goodman. Both of those are far more extensive looks at Victorian life.
July 12, 2018
Informative
I learned a lot, and Victorian Engkand was gross, no time travel for me.
I dislike the causal way the rape of women and children was written about and the fact that the was no mention of the lives of people of color. I mean they had to be there and I am sure their lives and the rules they had to live by were different from their white counterparts.
I learned a lot, and Victorian Engkand was gross, no time travel for me.
I dislike the causal way the rape of women and children was written about and the fact that the was no mention of the lives of people of color. I mean they had to be there and I am sure their lives and the rules they had to live by were different from their white counterparts.
June 23, 2019
Very disappointing book. Hardly worth the money.
No references and no bibliography!
Just a lot of unprovable anecdotes. I cannot believe that Hibberd left these out. Was it the publisher having no understanding of Historiography?
In addition, Sir James Simpson was a Scot who lived in Edinburgh not in England.
No references and no bibliography!
Just a lot of unprovable anecdotes. I cannot believe that Hibberd left these out. Was it the publisher having no understanding of Historiography?
In addition, Sir James Simpson was a Scot who lived in Edinburgh not in England.
April 21, 2020
An interesting and eye-opening look at the facets of daily life in Victorian England. Life was very difficult, monotonous and draining for all but the very rich, but I was also impressed by how quickly changes like the development and use of train travel happened and the big changes that they brought about.
July 4, 2019
Enlightening
Three and a half stars, actually. It was very interesting and thorough, though several parts dragged. I wasn't as engaged in the chapter on holidays. Overall I felt like I learned plenty.
Three and a half stars, actually. It was very interesting and thorough, though several parts dragged. I wasn't as engaged in the chapter on holidays. Overall I felt like I learned plenty.
August 2, 2017
An interesting and revealing look into this time period.
January 16, 2019
Excellent and insightful. I learnt a lot from this wonderful short history. Be glad you are a modern person! Life was very hard for all but the rich.
July 3, 2019
Good read!
Absolutely fascinating!!! Very much an accurate reference on Victorian life. A must read for the history buff. Extremely informative with accurate facts and figures.
Absolutely fascinating!!! Very much an accurate reference on Victorian life. A must read for the history buff. Extremely informative with accurate facts and figures.
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July 25, 2019A very entertaining brief look at what life was like for all classes of people in Victorian England.
September 3, 2019
very interesting read about facts of the day to day life of Victorian England.
June 10, 2024
No conclusion chapter.
June 25, 2019
A very readable and entertaining history of society during the Victorian era.
June 4, 2025
Another exceptional historical overview by the talented Christopher Hibbert ... this volume explores Victorian England from the perspective of class, culture, and progress ... an excellent companion to Crichton’s “The Great Train Robbery” ... engaging in its detail ...
Mirror of a vanished world, captured by Dickens, and Trollope, Eliot and Thackeray, expertly refracted by the gifted Christopher Hibbert … absolutely stellar …
Charles Dickens
Anthony Trollope
George Eliot
William Makepeace Thackeray
Mirror of a vanished world, captured by Dickens, and Trollope, Eliot and Thackeray, expertly refracted by the gifted Christopher Hibbert … absolutely stellar …
Charles Dickens
Anthony Trollope
George Eliot
William Makepeace Thackeray
June 24, 2016
An easy introduction to the Victorian era. Like other books in this series, it visits the different classes and activities of life in the period.
August 17, 2016
A good Intro to different aspects of life with some good stories but quite superficial due to covering such a variety of topics.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews