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. |
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... mind on the subject.”I Elaine Showalter has furthered this argument, noting thatVictorian social crit— ics such asJohn Stuart Mill frequently employed the language of disease and invalidism when speaking of unmarried women and arguing ...
... mind. My father and I both glanced round, surprised at her unusual reti— cence of epithets; but when the lad addressed turned, fixed his eyes on each of us for a moment, and made way for us, we ceased to wonder. Ragged, muddy, and ...
... mind, being sole architect of a long uphill but now thriv— ing trade. I saw, by the hardening of his features, and the restless way in which he poked his stick into the little waterpools, that he was longing to be in his tanyard close ...
... mind seemed to change. He was a long time before he ate a morsel; when he did so, it was quietly and slowly; looking very thoughtful all the while. As soon as the rain ceased, we took our way home, down the High Street, toward the Abbey ...
... mind. Surely, he would not refuse me—me, his sickly boy, whose life had in it so little pleasure. “Why do you want to go?You have no work?” “No; I wish I had. But I'll get some.” “How?” “Just by trying everything that comes to hand ...
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 |