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 SocietyWriters about activism and social changeEnglish male poetsAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchBurials at Westminster AbbeyEnglish male non-fiction writersNobel laureates in LiteraturePantheistsBritish male essayistsEnglish AnglicansEnglish people of Scottish descent19th-century English poets19th-century atheistsEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish male novelistsEnglish non-fiction writersLiteracy and society theorists19th-century English novelists19th-century pseudonymous writersEnglish male short story writersEnglish travel writersEpic poetsVictorian poets19th-century English non-fiction writers19th-century English women writers20th-century English male writers20th-century English poetsAlumni of Trinity College DublinBritish critics of religionsConversationalistsEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish atheistsEnglish satiristsEnglish socialistsEnglish women novelistsIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceIrish male poetsMembers of the Order of MeritTrope theoristsWriters of Gothic fiction19th-century British philanthropists19th-century British short story writers20th-century English novelistsAnglican writersAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writersBritish Nobel laureatesBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryEnglish abolitionistsEnglish fantasy writersEnglish libertariansEnglish philanthropistsEnglish short story writersFellows of the Royal Society of LiteratureFeminism and historyLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialists19th-century Anglicans19th-century British economists19th-century English dramatists and playwrights19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, Symbolist dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poets19th-century travel writersAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordArtist authorsArtists' Rifles soldiersBisexual male writersBisexual novelistsBritish social reformersBritish socialistsBritish women essayistsEnglish UnitariansEnglish suffragistsEnglish women philosophersEnglish writers with disabilitiesIrish male novelistsKnights 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 architects19th-century English politicians19th-century English short story writers20th-century English memoiristsAlumni of King's College LondonArts and Crafts movement artistsBisexual journalistsBisexual poetsBritish atheism activistsBritish botanical illustratorsBritish male poetsBritish scientists with disabilitiesConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismDeaths from ulcersEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish biographersEnglish children's writersEnglish historical novelists, 19th-century English historiansEnglish hymnwritersEnglish people of French descentEnglish printers, Translators of VirgilEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish reformersEnglish science fiction writersEnglish-language poets from IndiaFin de siècleFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansLGBTQ 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 educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchPeople 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
HistoryFellows of the Royal SocietyEnglish Anglicans19th-century English poetsEnglish male novelistsEnglish non-fiction writersVictorian novelists19th-century English novelistsVictorian era19th-century Anglicans19th-century English dramatists and playwrightsKnights of the GarterWriters from the London Borough of Camden19th-century English politiciansEnglish biographersLords Privy SealMembers of the Privy Council of the United KingdomPeople of the Victorian eraRectors of the University of GlasgowUK MPs 1865–1868Dickens
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
CultureWriters about activism and social changeEnglish male poetsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish male non-fiction writersBurials at Westminster AbbeyEnglish AnglicansBritish male essayists19th-century English poetsEnglish male novelistsVictorian novelistsLiteracy and society theoristsEnglish male dramatists and playwrights19th-century English novelists19th-century pseudonymous writersEnglish male short story writersEnglish travel writersWriters of Gothic fictionEnglish satirists19th-century English non-fiction writersBritish critics of religionsTrope theorists19th-century British short story writers19th-century British philanthropistsEnglish philanthropistsAnglican writers19th-century English dramatists and playwrightsWriters from the London Borough of CamdenBritish social reformersLecturers19th-century English essayists19th-century travel writersEnglish reformersEnglish prisoners and detaineesPeople from Somers Town, London19th-century British journalistsEnglish historical novelists, 19th-century English historiansHarriet 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
HistoryVictorian novelists19th-century atheists19th-century English novelistsEnglish travel writersEnglish atheistsEnglish women novelists19th-century English women writersEnglish abolitionistsFeminism and historyEnglish women philosophersWriters from NorwichEnglish writers with disabilities19th-century British economistsEnglish Unitarians19th-century English philosophersBritish women essayistsEnglish suffragistsVictorian women writersBritish scientists with disabilitiesBritish atheism activistsEnglish people of French descentPositivists19th-century English short story writersEnglish historical novelists, 19th-century English historiansOscar 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
CultureAphoristsVictorian novelistsVictorian poetsWriters of Gothic fictionAlumni of Trinity College DublinConversationalistsIrish male poetsBurials at Père Lachaise CemeteryLGBTQ Roman CatholicsLibertarian socialistsBisexual novelistsAlumni of Magdalen College, OxfordScholars of Trinity College DublinWriters from Dublin (city)Irish male novelistsBisexual male writersBisexual journalistsLGBTQ AnglicansConverts to Roman Catholicism from AnglicanismFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandFin de siècleBisexual poetsInfectious disease deaths in FranceIrish male dramatists and playwrights, Irish expatriates in FranceAnglo-Irish artists, Irish fantasy writers19th-century Irish dramatists and playwrights, Symbolist dramatists and playwrights, 19th-century Irish poetsPeople convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom, People who have received posthumous pardonsPeople educated at Portora Royal School, Irish writers in FrenchIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansRudyard 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
CultureBurials at Westminster AbbeyNobel laureates in LiteratureEnglish people of Scottish descent19th-century English poetsEnglish male novelistsVictorian novelists19th-century English novelistsEnglish male short story writers20th-century English poets20th-century English male writers19th-century English non-fiction writersEnglish Nobel laureates20th-century English novelistsFellows of the Royal Society of LiteratureBritish Nobel laureatesMythopoeic writersPeople of the Victorian era19th-century English short story writersMaritime writersEnglish-language poets from India20th-century English memoiristsDeaths from ulcersEnglish children's writersEnglish hymnwritersEnglish science fiction writersFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandRectors of the University of St AndrewsEnglish anti-fascistsThomas 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
CultureBurials at Westminster AbbeyPantheists19th-century English poetsEnglish male novelistsVictorian novelists19th-century English novelistsEnglish male short story writersVictorian poets20th-century English male writersMembers of the Order of Merit19th-century British short story writersEnglish short story writersFellows of the Royal Society of LiteratureAlumni of King's College LondonBritish male poetsWilliam 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
Culture19th-century English poetsEnglish male novelistsVictorian novelistsEpic poetsEnglish male short story writersVictorian poetsEnglish atheistsEnglish socialists19th-century British short story writersEnglish short story writersEnglish fantasy writersEnglish libertariansLibertarian socialistsArtists' Rifles soldiersBritish socialistsArtist authorsTranslators of HomerMythopoeic writersBritish male poets19th-century English architectsArts and Crafts movement artistsBritish botanical illustratorsPeople educated at Marlborough CollegeSocial Democratic Federation membersEnglish printers, Translators of Virgil