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This series comprises contemporary or near-contemporary accounts of the political, economic and social history of the British Isles during the nineteenth century. It includes material on international diplomacy and trade, labour relations and the women's movement, developments in education and social welfare, religious emancipation, the justice system and special events including the Great Exhibition of 1851.

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240 results in Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century

Page 12 of 12

A Woman's Thoughts about Women
  • Dinah Mulock Craik
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    19 August 2010
    First published in:
    1858
  • Dinah Craik (1826–1887) was a prolific writer of fiction, poetry and essays. She was best known for her novels, which appropriated well-worked narratives of individuals triumphing over adversity through hard work and moral integrity against a backdrop of industrialisation and the ascent of the middle classes. The most successful, John Halifax, Gentleman, tells the tale of a boy who works his way out of poverty. Craik herself was familiar with hardship: her father Thomas Mulock, a nonconformist minister, had spent periods confined to a lunatic asylum, and abandoned his children after his wife's death in 1854. In this work (originally published serially in Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts), Craik provided support and advice for single women like herself. She was highly critical of learned helplessness and advocated independence and cross-class sympathy, believing women should 'lead active, intelligent, industrious lives: lives complete in themselves'.

Woman and her Master
  • Volume 1
  • Sydney Morgan
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1840
  • Sydney, Lady Morgan (?1783–1859) is best remembered as a novelist whose highly successful historical romances often dealt with sexual, religious and racial discrimination. This work, published in 1840, examines the role of women in history. Morgan originally planned to write four volumes, but owing to her ill health only the first two, focusing on the Old Testament and classical civilization, were completed. Morgan proposes the view that women were really the dominant sex that shaped human society. She criticizes the legal discrimination against women that persists even in an age when superiority is no longer defined by physical strength. In Volume 1 she focuses on 'savage' and 'semi-civilized' peoples, and examples of societies as described in the Old Testament. Morgan writes vividly and passionately about the indignities to which women are subjected by men. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=morgsy

Woman and her Master
  • Volume 2
  • Sydney Morgan
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1840
  • Sydney, Lady Morgan (?1783–1859) is best remembered as a novelist whose highly successful historical romances often dealt with sexual, religious and racial discrimination. This work, published in 1840, examines the role of women in history. Morgan originally planned to write four volumes, but owing to her ill health only the first two, focusing on the Old Testament and classical civilization, were completed. Morgan proposes the view that women were really the dominant sex that shaped human society. She criticizes the legal discrimination against women that persists even in an age when superiority is no longer defined by sheer physical strength. In Volume 2 she focuses on examples from classical times, particularly some of the most influential Roman empresses. Morgan writes vividly and passionately about the indignities to which women were and are subjected by men. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=morgsy

The Women of England
  • Their Social Duties, and Domestic Habits
  • Sarah Stickney Ellis
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    18 November 2010
    First published in:
    1839
  • Sarah Stickney Ellis (1799–1872) was a prolific writer on female education and women's role in the world. She established a school at Rawdon House, Hertfordshire, to give girls an intellectual and moral training, as well as purely domestic skills, since as future mothers they would be the primary teachers and moulders of the next generation of society. The Women of England, published in 1839, was one of her most successful works, and was an important contribution to the debate on the position of women in society, particularly for the middle classes. Although she argues that women were equal to men, and morally superior, she does not question their legal and social subordination, but intends them to use their influence in their own sphere, and subtly, for the good of the family and society in general. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=ellisa

Essays on Woman's Work
  • Bessie Rayner Parkes
  • Published online:
    05 July 2011
    Print publication:
    23 September 2010
    First published in:
    1865
  • Bessie Rayner Parkes (1829–1925) was an English poet, writer and prominent early feminist best known for her campaigns for women's right to work and receive professional training. After meeting fellow feminist activist Barbara Bodichon (1827–1891) they founded the first English feminist journal, The English Woman's Review in 1858. Parkes served as its principal editor between 1858–1864. This volume, first published in 1865 and containing several essays from The English Woman's Review, advocates for young middle-class women to be given the opportunity to work and earn a living in safe conditions with fair pay. Parkes links the changes in society caused by the Industrial Revolution to the need for women to work. Her reassurance that married women should still be supported by their husbands illustrates how Parkes, like other contemporary feminists, worked within the contemporary social framework and used existing social norms to justify her aims.

The Duties of Women
  • A Course of Lectures
  • Frances Power Cobbe
  • Published online:
    05 July 2011
    Print publication:
    23 September 2010
    First published in:
    1881
  • Frances Power Cobbe (1822–1904) was an Irish writer, social reformer and activist best known for her contributions to Victorian feminism. After the death of her father in 1857, Cobbe travelled extensively across Europe before becoming a leader-writer for the London newspaper The Echo in 1868. She continued to publish on the topics of feminism, social problems and theology for the rest of her life. This volume, first published in 1881, contains a series of essays discussing the ethical practice of feminism. Written during a transitional period for the movement, when calls for universal suffrage were becoming the defining feature of feminism, Cobbe advocates the need for women to practice a form of emancipation which does not conform to stereotypical views, in order to avoid a public backlash against universal suffrage. Emphasising the political importance of private behaviours, this volume demonstrates feminist responses to changes in nineteenth century feminism.

England and Her Soldiers
  • Harriet Martineau
  • Published online:
    13 June 2011
    Print publication:
    21 October 2010
    First published in:
    1859
  • In the preface to this 1859 book Harriet Martineau (1802–1876) tells the reader that this 'is not a work of invention' or a 'fancy-piece' and thereby sets the tone for a study that is partly historical and partly sociological. In the writing of the book, Martineau collaborated with another prominent nineteenth-century figure, Florence Nightingale. They wished to gain political support for improvements in military hygiene and health care. Martineau draws on Nightingale's experiences when nursing wounded soldiers during the Crimean War and builds it into a strong narrative that describes the conditions that soldiers experienced in the barracks, in hospitals and on the field, making practical recommendations as to how to improve these areas, by legislation if necessary, so as to ensure the future good health of Britain's armed forces. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=martha

A Garden Diary
  • September 1899–September 1900
  • Emily Lawless
  • Published online:
    13 June 2011
    Print publication:
    18 November 2010
    First published in:
    1901
  • Emily Lawless (1845–1913) was a novelist and a prominent figure in the political circles of nineteenth-century Ireland. Although her grandfather had been an Irish patriot with United Irishmen sympathies, Lawless herself remained emphatically opposed to Home Rule. Her novels often explored Ireland's troubled past and present: her first success was Hurrish (1886) which was set in Galway during the Land League campaigns and was dedicated to her friend Margaret Oliphant. Although Lawless enjoyed literary success, her personal life was marked by tragedy: her father and two of her sisters committed suicide. Despite her great love for Ireland, Lawless eventually became disillusioned with its politics and moved to England. In this work, Lawless intersperses an account of a year spent tending to her garden in Surrey, with autobiographical and philosophical ruminations. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=lawlem

The Constitution Violated
  • An Essay
  • Josephine Butler
  • Published online:
    16 May 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1871
  • Josephine Elizabeth Butler (1828–1906) was a prominent English feminist who was best known for her controversial campaigns concerning the welfare and civil rights of prostitutes. In 1869 she became the leader of the campaign to limit the extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts. These Acts aimed to control the spread of venereal diseases in the armed forces through mandatory internal examinations and imprisonment for women accused of prostitution. Butler's campaign was instrumental in having the Acts repealed in 1886. In this volume of 1871, Butler denounces the Acts for denying accused women their civil rights, and discusses how repeal, together with universal suffrage and constitutional reform, would prevent this situation from recurring. Butler was one of the first feminists to frame her arguments explicitly through female experiences, and this volume illustrates her approach. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=butljo

Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade
  • Josephine Butler
  • Published online:
    16 May 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1896
  • Josephine Butler (1828–1906) was a prominent English feminist who was best known for her controversial campaigns concerning the welfare and civil rights of prostitutes. In 1869 she became the leader of the movement to limit the extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and was instrumental in having the Acts repealed in 1886. She later became involved in campaigns to stop child trafficking and child prostitution, which led to the age of consent being raised to 16 from 13 in 1885. This volume, first published in 1893, contains Butler's memoirs of her many campaigns. Focusing on the years 1869–1880, Butler explains the political background to the Contagious Diseases Acts, describes the moral and political opposition to the legislation, explores the ideology of the repeal campaign and describes her role. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=butljo

The Morality of Marriage
  • And Other Essays on the Status and Destiny of Woman
  • Mona Caird
  • Published online:
    16 May 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1897
  • Mona Caird (1854–1932) was a British novelist and early radical feminist social critic who insisted on maintaining her independence after marrying. Her 1888 article 'Marriage', in which she criticised marriage for limiting and subordinating women and called for equality between partners, sparked a furious controversy, and brought her widespread recognition. This volume, first published in 1897, contains a collection of Caird's feminist essays. She analyses the indignities marriage caused for women, both historically and contemporaneously, and advocates both equality in marriage (including in domestic duties) and women's economic independence. Caird also examines and criticises contemporary ideals of motherhood, discussing legislation and changes in social attitudes which would improve the lives of mothers. This volume presents a detailed account of controversial late-Victorian radical feminist views and criticisms. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=cairmo

A Few Words to the Jews
  • Charlotte Montefiore
  • Published online:
    21 April 2011
    Print publication:
    28 October 2010
    First published in:
    1853
  • Charlotte Montefiore (1818–1854) published A Few Words to the Jews anonymously in 1853. The volume is a collection of essays on Anglo-Jewish life, covering topics including the Sabbath, Jewish women, religious reform and practice, Jewish materialism, immortality, the idea of truth, and religious festivals. The essays, like Montefiore's collection of short stories, The Cheap Jewish Library, and her novel, Caleb Asher, carry a strong message of social justice. Montefiore, a wealthy, aristocratic and influential Jew, was deeply involved in social welfare and the education of young people within her community, establishing a number of foundations to aid underprivileged Jews, including the Jewish Emigration Society. In A Few Words Montefiore argued her case against inequality and economic exploitation within Jewish communities. The work offers a fascinating insight into the life and politics of Victorian Jews. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=montc2

Autobiography of Mrs. Fletcher of Edinburgh
  • With Selections from Her Letters and Other Family Memorials
  • Eliza Fletcher
  • Edited by Mary Richardson
  • Published online:
    21 April 2011
    Print publication:
    25 November 2010
    First published in:
    1874
  • Eliza Fletcher (born Eliza Dawson) (1770–1858) was an English writer, literary patron and supporter of parliamentary reform and liberal politics. Fletcher became a patron of the poets Ann Yearsley and Hannah More, and later in life formed friendships with prominent writers Elizabeth Gaskell and Harriet Martineau. After her marriage to politician and electoral reformer Archibald Fletcher in 1791, she became more radical in her political views. This volume, first published in 1874, contains Fletcher's autobiography, edited by her daughter, Lady Mary Richardson. Fletcher describes her life chronologically, providing fascinating detail on her childhood and adolescence, and citing correspondence illustrating her relationships with her friends. She provides sharp observations on political issues and describes the social and literary circles in which she moved, giving valuable information on literary society and politics during the early nineteenth century. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=fletel

The Whistler at the Plough
  • Containing Travels, Statistics, and Descriptions of Scenery and Agricultural Customs in most parts of England
  • Alexander Somerville
  • Published online:
    06 December 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1852
  • Alexander Somerville (1811–85) was an extraordinary figure, notorious in his own lifetime for his espousal of political reform. The youngest child of impoverished farmers from the Scottish border country, he was the last soldier to be flogged publicly in Britain, after openly stating that his regiment would not fire on Reform agitators. In his subsequent journalistic career his stance was influenced by his concern that violent revolution would inevitably be crushed and so lead to greater suffering among the working class, and he therefore supported the less radical reform movement urged by Cobden. He was a passionate opponent of the Corn Laws, and The Whistler at the Plough (published in 1852) is a collection of his letters and essays for the Anti-Corn-Law League, based on information gathered during his own travels around the country. The volume also contains his eyewitness account of the Irish famine of 1847.

A Letter to the Queen on Lord Chancellor Cranworth's Marriage and Divorce Bill
  • Caroline Sheridan Norton
  • Published online:
    10 November 2010
    Print publication:
    19 August 2010
    First published in:
    1855
  • Caroline Norton (1808–1877) was a Victorian author and campaigner for social reform, especially reform of women's legal rights. In this lucidly written account Norton describes how upon marriage in 1855 women became legally 'non-existent': they could not bring cases to court; they could not enter into a contract; they could not instigate a divorce and their possessions, earnings and any bequests made to them automatically became their husband's property. Norton explains how this lack of legal autonomy affected women if they became estranged from their husbands, using her own experiences for illustration and recommending changes which would improve women's legal position. Published in 1855 when Parliament was debating the subject of divorce reform, this volume shows the legal position of women at this time. It provides the opinions of contemporary legislators in support and opposition on the issues of women's legal rights and reform of divorce laws.

Cottage Economy
  • William Cobbett
  • Published online:
    29 August 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1822
  • William Cobbett (1763–1835) was at various times a soldier, a farmer, a radical activist and politician, and a journalist. At a time when the Industrial Revolution was dramatically changing the face of rural Britain, Cobbett was constantly concerned with improving the living conditions of the labouring classes. First published in 1821 as a series of pamphlets that sold over 30,000 copies, Cottage Economy demonstrates Cobbett's philosophy that the labourer should be taught industry, sobriety, frugality and 'the duty of using his best exertions for the rearing of his family'. With practical instructions, still relevant to those who seek to become self-reliant, Cobbett teaches the labouring classes of the nineteenth century the arts of brewing beer, keeping livestock, making bread, and 'other matters deemed useful in the conducting of the Affairs of a Labourer's Family.' Cottage Economy performs timelessly as the quintessential guide to self-sufficiency.

The Bettesworth Book
  • Talks with a Surrey Peasant
  • George Sturt
  • Published online:
    29 August 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1901
  • In 1901, George Sturt (using the pen-name George Bourne) published this biography of his gardener, Frederick Bettesworth. This unusual ethnographic account, written in a modified dialect, uniquely captures rural life in late nineteenth-century England. The book bridges the class divide between 'master and man' as Sturt, through many interviews, gets to know his down-to-earth day labourer, and comes to understand peasant life and poverty as seen through the eyes of Bettesworth. In the introduction, Sturt precisely lays out his interviewing methodology, which allows the reader to understand both men as the conversations, and the book, progress. Through 35 chapters, he opens a window on the social relationships between the classes amid descriptions of the work, childhood, education, and family life of the region's agricultural workers. Sturt is humbled and enriched by his friendship with Bettesworth, calling him the 'voice of Britain', a man 'rugged, unresting, irresistible'.

Rural Rides in the Counties
  • Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire,Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Somersetshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Hertfordshire
  • William Cobbett
  • Published online:
    29 August 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1830
  • With a reported 8,000 people attending his funeral in 1835, William Cobbett (1763–1835) is remembered as one of the most vocal and committed champions of political reform in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain. Returning to England in 1800 from self-imposed political exile, Cobbett was deeply shocked by the advances of the Industrial Revolution. The rural culture to which he was devoted was being destroyed and, a truly modern journalist, he suddenly desired 'to see the country, to see the farmers at home, and to see the labourers in the fields'. Cobbett rode through the towns and villages of England, giving voice to the plight of the oppressed labouring classes. His observations, first published in serial form between 1822 and 1826, were titled Rural Rides. They are an elegy to traditional agriculture, and one of the most extensive social commentaries ever published on agrarian life in the early nineteenth century.

The Amateur Poacher
  • Richard Jefferies
  • Published online:
    29 August 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1879
  • Richard Jefferies (1848–87) remains one of the most thoughtful and most lyrical writers on the English countryside. He had aspirations to make a living as a novelist, but it was his short factually based articles for The Live Stock Journal and other magazines, drawn from a wealth of knowledge of the rural community into which he had been born, which when brought together in book form brought him recognition (though not wealth) and which continued to be read and admired after his early death. The Gamekeeper at Home (also reissued in this series) and The Amateur Poacher were both collections of essays in the style of reminiscences of a rural way of life which, though never idyllic, was by the 1870s beginning to undergo a period of rapid change, through both the onset of mechanisation and agricultural depression.

The Gamekeeper at Home
  • Sketches of Natural History and Rural Life
  • Richard Jefferies
  • Published online:
    29 August 2010
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1878
  • Richard Jefferies (1848–87) remains one of the most thoughtful and most lyrical writers on the English countryside. He had aspirations to make a living as a novelist, but it was his short factually based articles for The Live Stock Journal and other magazines, drawn from a wealth of knowledge of the rural community into which he had been born, which when brought together in book form brought him recognition (though not wealth) and which continued to be read and admired after his early death. The Gamekeeper at Home and The Amateur Poacher (also reissued in this series) were both collections of essays in the style of reminiscences of a rural way of life which, though never idyllic, was by the 1870s beginning to undergo a period of rapid change, through both the onset of mechanisation and agricultural depression.

Page 12 of 12