Victorian Culture and Society: The Essential Glossary

Offering an introduction to Victorian culture and society, this glossary is also a route-map to further study. Designed specifically with undergraduates in mind, it contains around 400 short and accessible explanations of the key words, events, figures and concepts in the study of the Victorian period. From gothic and the Great Exhibition to origin of species and Oscar Wilde, this glossary gives an interdisciplinary overview of Victorian literature, culture and society, and offers directions for further reading. Covering literary topics, traditions and movements, as well as the period's history, culture and politics, the entries are fully cross-referenced and assume no prior knowledge, making this a useful reference on the Victorian period. The index makes it even more accessible, allowing the reader quickly to find information on topics not listed as individual entries.