England and the English

by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

HARDCOVER OCTAVO

Genres: History

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1833

About the author

Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton PC, was an English novelist, poet, playwright, and politician. Lord Lytton was a florid, popular writer of his day, who coined such phrases as "the great unwashed", "pursuit of the almighty dollar", "the pen is mightier than the sword", and the infamous incipit "It was a dark and stormy night."

He was the youngest son of General William Earle Bulwer of Heydon Hall and Wood Dalling, Norfolk and Elizabeth Barbara Lytton, daughter of Richard Warburton Lytton of Knebworth, Hertfordshire. He had two brothers, William Earle Lytton Bulwer (1799–1877) and Henry Bulwer, 1st Baron Dalling and Bulwer.

Lord Lytton's original surname was Bulwer, the names 'Earle' and 'Lytton' were middle names. On 20 February 1844 he assumed the name and arms of Lytton by royal licence and his surname then became 'Bulwer-Lytton'. His widowed mother had done the same in 1811. His brothers were always simply surnamed 'Bulwer'.

Reviews

[Edward Wardell-Yerburgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bulwer-Lytton describes late Georgian England in five volumes that cover English character, society and manners, education and religion, intellectual spirit, and politics. The final volume (politics) is dedicated to the English people, to whom "the condition of the country is more [their] concern than that of any one else".

Bulwer-Lytton was an aristocrat-politician/author of the time. Some of his views that stood out to me were his opposition to English neoclassical buildings, his belief that Industry (with a capital I) was the reason for the country's prosperity, and his opposition to the Poor Laws, which he claimed had made mendicancy (begging) a "legal profession" and dampened the industrial spirit.

[Anna Georgieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read about common English stereotypes in the 19th century - the height of the British empire.