John Halifax, Gentleman

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Broadview Press, Oct 26, 2005 - Fiction - 585 pages

This 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.

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Contents

Acknowledgements
8
Introduction
9
A Brief Chronology
25
A Note on the Text
28
JOHN HALIFAX GENTLEMAN
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
Copyright

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About the author (2005)

Lynn M. Alexander is Professor and Chair of the Department of English at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She is the author of Women, Work, and Representation: Needlewomen in Victorian Art and Literature (Ohio University Press, 2003) and many articles on Victorian literature.

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