Victorian Things

by Asa Briggs

"No Victorianist, however well read, could fail to learn something from this book. It is a veritable plum pudding, bursting with interesting information and experience."—Christopher A. Kent, Victorian Periodicals Review

Genres: History, Material Culture, Nonfiction, 19th Century, British Literature, Victorian

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 1988

About the author

Asa Briggs, Baron Briggs was an English historian, best known for his studies on the Victorian era. In particular, his trilogy, Victorian People, Victorian Cities, and Victorian Things made a lasting mark on how historians view the nineteenth century. He was made a life peer in 1976.

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as interesting as I expected it to be. Things started to pick up when we got down to the actual nitty-gritty of everday Victorian life and the things it contained such as clothes, household objects and working conditions. Not recommended for any but the most ardent historian .

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a massive book. It contains incredible detail, eclectic observations, facts and assorted digressions. In summary, it is much like a collection of Victorian things one would find on a mantle or a side table in a Victorian household of some financial means. To be candid, it overwhelmed me.

There is no question that Briggs offers a massive reservoir of information of all things both grand and unique. There is also no question that a thorough reading and understanding of this book would equip any reader with enough knowledge to speak with both insight and authority on the topic of Victorian things.

But to me, that is also a major flaw of the book. It is overwhelming. I think the best approach to the book would be to nibble away at your leisure rather than attempting to read it through with any pace.

The font size of the book seems small. With this problem facing the potential reader another hurdle presents itself to the reader.

There is no question that this book offers the reader a ticket to enter the world of Victorian things. The real question is how to read through the book to achieve maximum enjoyment.

[T.R. Ormond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave up on it... I'd go back to it if I had to become a specialist on the Victorian Era.

[Kylie Towers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly technical reference book that really only a historian would enjoy. I did...

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a reference book than anything else. But it has reminded me that the best place of research is the source