Richard’s Comments (group member since Feb 16, 2012)

Richard’s comments from the Q&A with V.R. Christensen group.

One of the things I find most interesting about the Victorian eras, both in the UK and here in the USA, was the over-arching, cultural feeling of achievement and enlightenment despite the reality of the inequity of the period. Women, of course were marginalized, but so were working people, whose sweat allowed the scions of wealth their drawing room soirees... and their belief they were the titans of a new, better world. So similar to where we are now. Not very encouraging, but great literary fodder. One of my very favorite books dealing especially with the economic realities in industrialization, is the Leon Uris masterwork, Trinity. One of its main themes is the self-delusion among the ruling classes as Northern Ireland was industrialized. Even if you're a staunch believer in Unity, the economic discussion alone is worth reading the book for.