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Charles Dickens Publishes Oliver Twist
Dickens is one of the most prominent Victorian Era authors, who expertly employs each and every element within his works. In Oliver Twist alone there is differentiation between classes, change, the rewarding of good behavior, and the punishing of cruel characters. Throughout his time writing in teh era, Dickens crafted many masterful works of art, but Oliver Twist was the first novel of his to be published and thus deserves mentioning. -
Emily Brontë writes Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë's masterful piece of British literature illustrates several of the themes present in Victorian literature. The drive for social advancement is present, spurred on my the desire for love. Additionally, the qualifications of what truly makes an "Englishman" are brought into question. -
Charlotte Brontë writes Jane Eyre
The Brontë sisters (Emily, Charlotte, and Ann) were all writers of the Victorian Era and their works reflected many of the themes therein. -
Thoreau writes "Civil Disobedience"
While not an English author, Thoreau crafted an important piece of American literature that is still well-known today. -
Walt Whitman writes Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass An American poet, Walt Whitman broke away from the traditional ways of poetry writing. His unconventional methods reflected the Victorian Era themes of rebelling against idealized notions and stereotypes. Whitman set a new precedent for poets, freeing them from the conventional methods of poetry form and language. -
Charles Darwin writes On The Origin Of Species
Darwin's work made several important points and changed much of the way that people in the Victorian Era thought. It introduced a more scientific, and less religious, way of thinking about life on Earth. Some of the ideas he presented were reflected upon by other authors and poets of the time in their own literary works. -
Lewis Caroll writes Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland is an ingenious and whimsical reflection on Victorian times and qualities. While Alice is supposed to be brought up as a perfect Victorian lady, she has qualities that do not classify her as such. Throughout her travels she meets different classes and stereotypes of people that she knows in the real world. This reflects many themes of Victorian Era literature. -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creates Sherlock Holmes
A renowned character makes his first appearance in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. -
Oscar Wilde writes The Importance of Being Earnest
Wilde's creation was both a commentary and a documentary of Victorian life.
