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
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... began to emphasize morality over birth in defining what made a gentleman. The Industrial Revolution's creation of an upwardly mobile middle class had begun to cause breaks in a class system that had been previously viewed as absolute ...
... began and ended with his own honest name—John Halifax” 41). The pattern continues throughout the novel: when there is a reference to Halifax's father having been a gentleman, another character, usually either Fletcher or Ursula, rebuts ...
... began to fail, and at age sixteen Craik had to assume most of the responsibil— ities for the household. After Mrs. Mulock's death in 1845, Thomas Mulock deserted his children entirely and refused to contribute to their support. Since ...
... began searching in his pocket for some larger coin. I ventured to draw his ear down, and whisper something—but I got no answer; meanwhile,John Halifax, for the third time, was going away. “Stop, lad—I forgot thy name here is thy groat ...
... began and ended with his own honest name—John Halifax. Jael kept coming in and out of the parlor on divers excuses, eyeing very suspiciously John Halifax and me; especially when she heard me laughing—a rare and notable fact for mirth ...
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 |