John Halifax, GentlemanThis 1856 novel, one of the most beloved of the Victorian period, follows the life, from childhood to death, of an orphaned boy who grows to become a wealthy and powerful leader in his community. The young John Halifax is taken in by Abel Fletcher, a Quaker tanner, and forms a close friendship with Fletcher’s son, Phineas. Through hard work and integrity, John overcomes obstacles to find domestic happiness and material success. His achievements symbolize those of England in the early nineteenth century, and this novel captures the ambition and ebullient optimism of the growing Victorian middle class. This Broadview edition includes a critical introduction and full annotation; the idea of the “gentleman” in Victorian culture, labour unrest in the early nineteenth century, and women’s roles in Victorian England are explored in the broad selection of contextual documents. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 82
... Lord Chesterfield, Letters to His Son and Others (1774) ' 499 2. From Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present (1843) ° 501 3. From John Henry Newman, The Idea ofa University (1854) ' 503 4. From Samuel Smiles, SeK-Help (1859) ° 505 5. From ...
... Lord Luxmore's son cannot run for Parliament because he is Catholic; yet throughout Halifax refuses to align himself to any particular denomination and advocates religious tolerance. A number of social and economic issues also reflect ...
... Lord Chesterfield, as revealed in his Letters to His Son, epitomized concern with the trivial aspects of making an impression and the cynicism that was typical of the aristocracy in the eighteenth century: There is nothing so illiberal ...
... Lord Luxmore, as revenge for upsetting his attempt to manipulate an election, dams the stream which powers Halifax's mill. Halifax uses the potentially disastrous situation as the impetuous to put in place improvements he had been ...
... Lord.'” (pp. 366—67) In his response, Halifax reflects the Protest ethic equating social success with Christian perseverance. Thus by the end of the novel the definition of gentleman has shifted to encompass only those who think and act ...
Contents
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The Idea of the Gentleman in Victorian Culture | 499 |
Working Conditions and Labor Unrest in the Early Nineteenth Century | 509 |
Womens Roles in Victorian England | 525 |
Reviews | 537 |
Religious Issues | 553 |
Fictional Conterpoints | 566 |
Table of Dates of Relevant Events and Legislation | 579 |
Select Bibliography | 580 |