Victorian novelists
Victorian literature refers to English literature during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901). The 19th century is considered by some to be the Golden Age of English Literature, especially for British novels.
7 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureHistoryFellows of the Royal SocietyEnglish male poetsWriters about activism and social changeAphoristsBurials at Westminster AbbeyCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish male non-fiction writersNobel laureates in LiteraturePantheists19th-century English poetsBritish male essayistsEnglish AnglicansEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish male novelistsEnglish people of Scottish descent19th-century atheistsEnglish male short story writersEnglish non-fiction writersEpic poetsLiteracy and society theorists19th-century English novelists19th-century pseudonymous writers20th-century English male writers20th-century English poetsAlumni of Trinity College DublinBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryEnglish atheistsEnglish satiristsEnglish travel writersIrish male dramatists and playwrightsIrish male poetsVictorian poets19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English women writers20th-century English novelistsAnglican writersBritish critics of religionsConversationalistsEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish short story writersEnglish socialistsEnglish women novelistsIrish expatriates in FranceMembers of the Order of MeritTrope theoristsWriters of Gothic fiction19th-century British philanthropists19th-century British short story writersAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writersArtist authorsBisexual male writersBisexual novelistsBritish Nobel laureatesEnglish abolitionistsEnglish fantasy writersEnglish libertariansEnglish philanthropistsEnglish writers with disabilitiesFellows of the Royal Society of LiteratureFeminism and historyIrish male novelistsLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialists19th-century Anglicans19th-century British economists19th-century English architects19th-century English dramatists and playwrights19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poets, Symbolist dramatists and playwrights19th-century travel writers20th-century English memoiristsAlumni of King's College LondonAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordArtists' Rifles soldiersBisexual poetsBritish social reformersBritish socialistsBritish women essayistsEnglish UnitariansEnglish historical novelistsEnglish male journalistsEnglish suffragistsEnglish women philosophersEnglish-language poets from IndiaKnights of the GarterLecturersMythopoeic writersScholars of Trinity College DublinTranslators of HomerVictorian eraVictorian women writersWriters from Dublin (city)Writers from NorwichWriters from the London Borough of Camden19th-century British journalists19th-century English historians19th-century English politicians19th-century English short story writersArts and Crafts movement artistsBisexual journalistsBritish atheism activistsBritish botanical illustratorsBritish male poetsBritish scientists with disabilitiesConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismDeaths from ulcersEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish biographersEnglish children's writersEnglish hymnwritersEnglish people of French descentEnglish printers, Translators of VirgilEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish reformersEnglish science fiction writersFin de siècleFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish Freemasons, Irish libertarians, Irish people of English descentIrish writers in French, People educated at Portora Royal SchoolLGBTQ AnglicansLords Privy SealMaritime writersMembers of the Privy Council of the United KingdomPeople convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom, People who have received posthumous pardonsPeople educated at Marlborough CollegePeople from Somers Town, LondonPeople of the Victorian eraPositivistsRectors of the University of GlasgowRectors of the University of St AndrewsSocial Democratic Federation membersUK MPs 1865–1868
Benjamin Disraeli
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most famous politicians of the Victorian age, who broadened his fame and spread his ideas through popular novels.
19 September 2024
Featuring: Lawrence Goldman, Emily Jones, Daisy Hay
HistoryKnights of the GarterPeople of the Victorian eraEnglish male novelistsRectors of the University of Glasgow19th-century English dramatists and playwrightsUK MPs 1865–1868English biographersVictorian era19th-century English poetsEnglish Anglicans19th-century English novelistsVictorian novelistsWriters from the London Borough of CamdenLords Privy Seal19th-century AnglicansMembers of the Privy Council of the United KingdomEnglish non-fiction writers19th-century English politiciansFellows of the Royal Society19th centuryDickens
Melvyn Bragg discusses the achievements of Charles Dickens What is his political and literary legacy to our age?
12 July 2001
Featuring: Rosemary Ashton, Michael Slater, John Bowen
Critics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish male novelists19th-century travel writers19th-century English dramatists and playwrightsLiteracy and society theoristsPeople from Somers Town, LondonBritish male essayistsEnglish reformers19th-century English historians19th-century English poetsEnglish Anglicans19th-century English novelistsEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsWriters about activism and social change19th-century pseudonymous writersEnglish male poetsVictorian novelists19th-century British short story writersWriters from the London Borough of CamdenEnglish male journalistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesTrope theoristsEnglish philanthropistsBritish social reformersEnglish male short story writersLecturersBritish critics of religionsAnglican writers19th-century British journalistsEnglish satirists19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English essayistsEnglish historical novelistsEnglish male non-fiction writersEnglish travel writers19th-century British philanthropistsWriters of Gothic fictionBurials at Westminster Abbey19th centuryHarriet Martineau
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Harriet Martineau who wrote extensively in the C19th on a wide range of subjects including abolition, and is called the mother of sociology.
8 December 2016
Featuring: Valerie Sanders, Karen O'Brien, Ella Dzelzainis
History19th-century English women writersEnglish women novelists19th-century English philosophers19th-century English historians19th-century English novelistsBritish women essayistsFeminism and historyEnglish women philosophers19th-century British economists19th-century atheistsVictorian novelists19th-century English short story writersBritish atheism activistsEnglish abolitionistsEnglish UnitariansEnglish people of French descentEnglish writers with disabilitiesBritish scientists with disabilitiesEnglish atheistsPositivistsVictorian women writersWriters from NorwichEnglish historical novelistsEnglish travel writersEnglish suffragists19th centuryEconomicsOscar Wilde
Melvyn Bragg discusses Oscar Wilde, the Aesthetes and his literary legacy. Was Wilde a reactionary - the last of the romantics - or was he the midwife to modernism?
6 December 2001
Featuring: Valentine Cunningham, Regenia Gagnier, Neil Sammells
Bisexual poetsIrish Freemasons, Irish libertarians, Irish people of English descentConversationalistsIrish male dramatists and playwrightsBisexual novelistsFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandVictorian poetsIrish writers in French, People educated at Portora Royal SchoolAlumni of Trinity College DublinBisexual journalistsInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish male novelistsFin de siècleVictorian novelistsConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismScholars of Trinity College DublinLGBTQ AnglicansIrish expatriates in FranceBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordWriters from Dublin (city)People convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom, People who have received posthumous pardonsBisexual male writers19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poets, Symbolist dramatists and playwrightsLibertarian socialistsLGBTQ Roman CatholicsAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writersAphoristsWriters of Gothic fictionIrish male poets19th centuryIrelandMedicineRudyard Kipling
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Rudyard Kipling, a writer sometimes described as the poet of empire.
16 October 2014
Featuring: Howard Booth, Daniel Karlin, Jan Montefiore
CultureFellows of the Royal Society of LiteraturePeople of the Victorian eraEnglish male novelistsDeaths from ulcersMythopoeic writersEnglish science fiction writersFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England20th-century English memoirists20th-century English male writersEnglish hymnwriters19th-century English poets19th-century English novelistsEnglish anti-fascistsVictorian novelistsMaritime writersEnglish-language poets from IndiaEnglish male short story writers19th-century English short story writersEnglish Nobel laureatesNobel laureates in LiteratureRectors of the University of St AndrewsEnglish children's writers19th-century English non-fiction writersBritish Nobel laureates20th-century English novelistsEnglish people of Scottish descent20th-century English poetsBurials at Westminster Abbey19th century20th centuryLanguageThomas Hardy's Poetry
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Hardy's poems, which he prized far above the novels which made him famous and rich, and his ambition to be ranked alongside Shelley and Byron.
13 January 2022
Featuring: Mark Ford, Jane Thomas, Tim Armstrong
CultureFellows of the Royal Society of LiteratureBritish male poetsEnglish short story writersAlumni of King's College London20th-century English male writers19th-century English poets19th-century English novelistsEnglish male novelistsEnglish male short story writersMembers of the Order of MeritPantheistsVictorian novelists19th-century British short story writersBurials at Westminster AbbeyVictorian poets19th century20th centuryPoetryWilliam Morris
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss some of the many aspects of William Morris: his activism, poetry and prose and his ideas on arts, crafts and work in an industrial world.
5 July 2018
Featuring: Ingrid Hanson, Marcus Waithe, Jane Thomas
CultureEnglish fantasy writersEnglish male novelistsSocial Democratic Federation membersMythopoeic writersEnglish libertariansVictorian poetsBritish male poetsEpic poetsArtists' Rifles soldiers19th-century English poetsEnglish printers, Translators of VirgilBritish socialistsVictorian novelists19th-century British short story writersBritish botanical illustratorsEnglish short story writersTranslators of HomerEnglish male short story writers19th-century English architectsPeople educated at Marlborough CollegeEnglish atheistsLibertarian socialistsArts and Crafts movement artistsEnglish socialistsArtist authors19th century20th century