What are some misconceptions that readers have of Victorian fiction?

[SarahC]

I may have stated it incorrectly, Anna, sorry. You had made a list of women authors in the Top 5 thread, but that didn't necessarily mean your absolute Top 5. sorry! It was an intriguing list -- that is why I went back to it, thank you.

[Ellen]

I'd recommend Elizabeth Gaskell's books to JX, because they're easy to read through and are, I suppose, somewhat female-oriented. However, Anthony Trollope would be fun for her to read, too, as would Wilkie Collins, especially "The Woman in White". And of course there are the longer books, such as "Bleak House" by Dickens, or for that matter, other books of his, too. Not mention all the other Bronte sisters' novels in addition to "Wuthering Heights". There are many great books from the Victorian era, and if JX likes her first few she'll be hooked, I'll bet!! ;o)

[K.]

Alex wrote: "Okay, Mr. Midshipman Easy goes on my list: I'll break the tie by going with the one Wikipedia tells me is his best-known. He's early, huh? That was 1836, before the big Victorian explosion.

Thanks!"

I'll be interested to know what you think of him, Alex.

Anna, have you read many of Florence's? Can you give us a "try this one first" suggestion?

k

[Everyman]

Alex wrote: "Okay, Mr. Midshipman Easy goes on my list: I'll break the tie by going with the one Wikipedia tells me is his best-known."

I downloaded it from Gutenberg onto my Kindle and started it. The early chapters are an absolute riot. Part way in now and the humor is getting a bit repetitive; I'm hoping something happens that changes up the dynamic of the book. But do at least take a half-hour to read the first few chapters. Wonderful stuff.

[K.]

One certainly can't class Marryat with some of his contemporaries in general excellence, but he's always good for a belly-laugh.

If you can deal with the fact that many of his books run along the same lines of "boy coming of age" you'll get along with him well. I do think he could turn a sentence fairly proficiently.

[L.D.]

Going back to the topic of misconceptions I always thought Victorian literature was boring and merely about manners, social etiquette, and long, annoying descriptions. Obviously my views have changed. Mostly thanks to my first Shakespeare class in college. It was taught by a PhD student who's name is Wilkie Collins, named after the novelist of the same name.

The Shakespeare class taught me how to read difficult language and explore the different themes and motifs of a story. It also taught me how important understanding the historical context of the period that the book was written. Once I mastered those two concepts I've been able to tackle on the "stuffy, boring" Victorian novels and have been having a great time with them. The first one I read was The Woman in White, which I'm happily rereading again now, inspired by my old teacher's name.

I've enjoyed reading this thread and following the discussions. There are a lot of great suggestions I plan to pass along to my younger siblings and broaden my own reading list.

[Sasha]

OMG Anna, you would not believe how hard it is to convince Amazon that when I search for "blood of the vampire," I'm not just getting the name of one of the Twilight books wrong.

Irina, Woman in White is coming up really soon for me; I'm wicked stoked for it. (Yes, I said wicked stoked.)

[K.]

Anna wrote: "@ K.- I just read The Blood of the Vampire and loved it. This edition is edited by a Victorianist I met at a conference and has excellent contextual materials and a terrific introduc..."

Thanks Anna, I will check it out sometime! k

[K.]

Irina wrote: "Going back to the topic of misconceptions I always thought Victorian literature was boring and merely about manners, social etiquette, and long, annoying descriptions. Obviously my views have chan..."

Irina,

I think you are very right about general misconceptions and ideas about older literature. Sadly, so many think it's not even worth the trouble.

You are fortunate to have taken such a great class! Whenever I have (informally) taught people why to read classics and how to begin, I generally start with the language, with heavy emphasis on the big benefits of being able to understand these old books & what just that bit of knowledge can do for us today--how it applies (why read these musty old books anyway?). Depending on my audience, I can tell them that if they have difficulty understanding, say, the King James Bible, by studying these old master artists they will enhance their understanding of their scriptures (and vice versa). That is one way of looking at it, if you happen to be a person who wants to understand the Bible.

Another is that I think that our brains actually work better by being exercised a little. Learning new vocabulary helps! There are many other reasons (and the least of these is that these books are GREAT FUN!!). Logical thinking, conversing with the greatest minds in history, getting deep into the workings of human nature...the list goes on!

A good dictionary is pretty key. If you happened to be looking for a one-volume hard copy that would help understanding the language of the Victorians etc. The 1828 Websters is a great thing to have. However, you can get that online as well. I love http://www.onelook.com/ and use it for almost all my dictionary needs....I'd love to own the Oxford, but I'd have to build more shelves.

And while we're speaking of words, Alex, you know--we can all pretend to be snobby Victorian lovers and of course we all speak perfect, highbrow English (except for those of us who, well, don't) but "wicked-stoked" is just funny. I like your style.

[L.D.]

A good dictionary is pretty key. If you happened to be looking for a one-volume hard copy that would help understanding the language of the Victorians etc. The 1828 Websters is a great thing to have. However, you can get that online as well. I love http://www.onelook.com/ and use it for almost all my dictionary needs....I'd love to own the Oxford, but I'd have to build more shelves.

I agree. I would be lost without my dictionary. I usually have a standard Merriam Webster for everyday reading and words, but when it comes to more older and complicated literature where the modern day meaning of the word may not be what it was original used for I rely on Oxford dictionary. The college I went to was fortunate enough to have a subscription to the Oxford resources website that was free to the students. I made good use of it. I plan on purchasing an expansive Oxford dictionary in the near future.

Amazon should know better. I don't even consider the Twilight books to be real books.

This made me grin. One of the best descriptions I've heard of Twilight: They aren't real books. Just like guys who sparkle aren't real vampires.

[Sasha]

One of my favorite things about the Kindle is that built-in dictionary. It makes it so easy to look up words.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

For the British, "the Dictionary" in the 19th century was usually Dr. Johnson's.

We have an edition of the OED - in two volumes, complete with magnifying lens! (I just take my glasses off and read; I'm that near-sighted.)

[Everyman]

Alex wrote: "One of my favorite things about the Kindle is that built-in dictionary. It makes it so easy to look up words."

Although I'm disappointed at how many words in Victorian literature they don't have.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Well, it's probably not designed for that purpose; I'd guess it was a general-purpose dictionary.

[Sara]

Whenever I'm reading and come across a word I'm unsure of, I look it up in my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Fith Edition from 1939, which is always close at hand. It has never failed me yet. :)

[Everyman]

I wouldn't call myself a dictionary addict, but I do have the Webster's 2nd on a dictionary stand in my library, the OED (full size edition, I indulged myself when it was on a really good sale) on the shelves behind me, and several other dictionaries scattered around the study and the house including Greek-English, Latin-English, and an abridged (didn't realize it was at the time) of Johnson's dictionary.

But I confess that I usually find it faster to go online unless I need something more than a simple definition of the word as used in current usage.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Bob nearly threw out the 1969 American Heritage dictionary when we were doing the big shuffle of books and furniture for the carpeting. My mother and I were aghast!

[Everyman]

Susanna wrote: "Bob nearly threw out the 1969 American Heritage dictionary when we were doing the big shuffle of books and furniture for the carpeting. My mother and I were aghast!"

That's a great dictionary -- I particularly love their usage panel comments.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

It's a great dictionary; used it in college in the 80s when I was taking linguistics.

[Sasha]

Gah, I wish someone had told me that before I read a bunch of them. Would've saved me a ton of time.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Anna wrote: "I've just run into another misconception at a social gathering. Apparently all Victorian novels are concerned with 'false social constructs and don't have anything to with real life which makes the..."

Oh good grief.

[Ellen]

Susanna wrote: "Anna wrote: "I've just run into another misconception at a social gathering. Apparently all Victorian novels are concerned with 'false social constructs and don't have anything to with real life wh..."

I agree with both you and Susanna, Anna. Incredibly idiotic. Sigh.

[Sasha]

I suppose this goes here...

On Wikipedia's poorly written entry for Victorian literature, I found this:

These tales often centered on larger-than-life characters such as Sherlock Holmes, famous detective of the times, Barry Lee, big time gang leader, Sexton Blake, Phileas Fogg, and other fictional characters of the era...

I've never heard of Barry Lee, big time gang leader. I can find nothing about him on the interwebs. Anyone heard of him? Or is this some kind of vandalism that no one has noticed in what looks like quite a long time? Victorian experts, I require your sleuthery!*

* I made that word up!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Newp.

[Vance]

Alex wrote: "I suppose this goes here...

On Wikipedia's pretty badly-written entry for Victorian literature, I found this:These tales often centered on larger-than-life characters such as Sherlock Holmes, famo..."


This is from Victorian-Era.org: "Another type of literature was the old Gothic stories. These were based on fantastic fiction. It was during this time than characters like Sherlock Holmes, Barry Lee, Sexton Blake, Phileas Fogg and others were originated. Also fictional characters like Dracula, Edward Hyde, The Invisible Man and others became popular."

Beyond grammar issues, I was surprised to learn that Gothic and fantastic fiction are synonymous genres. Or that Phileas Fogg is a Gothic hero. :op As for Barry Lee...? Besides being in several definitions of Victorian literature around the Net, I can't seem to find an actual piece he belongs in, or for that matter, any mention of an actual piece...

Challenge...ACCEPTED!!!

[Sasha]

Okay, so either Wikipedia ripped off and re-wrote the V-E entry or the other way around. And I saw several other places where the Wikipedia entry had just been copied word for word.

This all seems kinda sketchy. We may need to work together to rewrite at least parts of Wikipedia's Victorian literature page.

[Vance]

I checked every Victorian/British literature bibliography we've got in the Baylor library system, and the cataloging databases I use for work, and cannot find a single mention of a Barry Lee anywhere. Which is not necessarily definitive. Just odd...