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 54
... close of the novel, (“What with your improvements at Enderly, and your Catholic Emancipation—your Abolition of Slavery and your Parliamentary Reform—why, there is hardly any scheme for good, public or private, to which you do not lend a ...
... close male friend, Fletcher is a natural confidant for Halifax as he plans his future as a captain of industry. Although Halifax apparently shares many of his hopes and dreams with his wife,Victorian audiences would expect him to try ...
... close male friend— ship and homosexuality. But as Jeffrey Richards explains, for Victorians the passage would have carried very different connota— tions. First, invoking of a sense of brotherhood, “my brother Jonathan,” would establish ...
... close friend. The two had formed a relation— ship in the 1860s after George had been severely injured in a railway crash in or near London that resulted in the loss of a leg. Reports vary, but whether the wreck was near her home and he ...
... close to the wall, and there will be shelter enough both for us and thee,” said my father, as he pulled my little hand—carriage into the alley, under cover, from the pelting rain. The lad, with a grateful look, put out a hand likewise ...
Contents
8 | |
9 | |
25 | |
28 | |
29 | |
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 |