The Victorians

John D. Wright

Summary

'We have long passed the Victorian Era when asterisks were followed after a certain interval by a baby.' - W. Somerset Maugham The Victorian era boasted the glory of the Empire and the grandeur that Empire afforded, it saw huge technological advances in civil engineering and transport, mass urbanisation and social change, as well as still-treasured literature and the most popular sports that we play today. But it was also a time of great poverty, of mass child labour and prostitution, of the Irish Potato Famine and British concentration camps in the Boer War, of the boom and bust of the California Gold Rush and slavery being fought over in America, of sexual hypocrisy and rigid class differences. The Victorians explores the Victorian world from its cholera epidemics and asylums to its workhouses and chimneysweeps, from the Opium Wars to London’s opium dens, from the gangs of New York to convicts bound for Australia, from body-snatchers to freakshows, from the British in Afghanistan to the American Civil War, from imposters claiming fortunes to women pretending to be men. Included are the lives of such colourful figures as Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, the Elephant Man and Jack the Ripper, and the world that inspired Dracula, detective stories and the character of Sherlock Holmes. Expertly written and using 180 photographs, paintings, and illustrations, The Victorians reveals that behind the splendour and the facades was a world of poverty, disease and hypocrisy, where fortunes could be quickly made – and swiftly lost.

Available since: 12/19/2024.

Print length: 224 pages.

Humanities & Social Sciences

Other books that might interest you

Emotional intelligence unlocked:...

Henry J. Howes

Emotional Intelligence Unlocked: Building Better Relationships and a Happier Life 
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand, manage, and effectively express one’s emotions while also being able to navigate and influence the emotions of others. It is a crucial skill for fostering strong relationships, achieving personal happiness, and excelling in both personal and professional environments. 
In this topic, we explore the key components of emotional intelligence, such as self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, motivation, and social skills. These skills empower individuals to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, build trust, and create meaningful connections.Key Highlights:Self-Awareness: Understanding your emotions, triggers, and reactions is the foundation of EI. Being mindful of how emotions influence your decisions and behavior enables better control.Empathy: The ability to see situations from others’ perspectives fosters compassion and mutual respect. Empathy is essential for nurturing deep and meaningful relationships.Effective Communication: Emotional intelligence enhances the way we express ourselves. This includes active listening, non-verbal cues, and conveying messages with clarity and respect.Conflict Resolution: EI helps in de-escalating tensions and finding constructive solutions during disagreements, leading to stronger and healthier relationships.Personal Growth and Happiness: By managing stress, maintaining optimism, and staying motivated, emotionally intelligent individuals cultivate resilience and positivity in their lives.Social Harmony: Whether at home, work, or in social circles, emotional intelligence promotes teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Show book

The Heart And Heart Disease - A...

Owen Jones

Six Interesting Facts about the Heart 
1. Heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, that’s more than 170,000 deaths each year – an average of 480 deaths each day or one every three minutes in the UK⁵. 
2. There are around 7.6 million people living with a heart or circulatory disease in the UK: 4 million men and 3.6 million women⁵. 
3. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the most common cause of heart attack and was the single biggest killer of both men and women worldwide in 2019⁵. 
4. In the US, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups¹. One person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease¹. 
5. About 695,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2021—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths¹. 
6. The most common type of heart disease in the USA is coronary artery disease (CAD), in which the major blood vessels to the heart become narrow or blocked with cholesterol and fatty build-up. CAD affects 18.2 million adults, and shockingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every two in ten deaths from CAD happen in people under 65 years old².

Show book

Lincoln - A Very Short Introduction

Allen C. Guelzo

Beneath the surface of the apparently untutored and deceptively frank Abraham Lincoln ran private tunnels of self-taught study, a restless philosophical curiosity, and a profound grasp of the fundamentals of democracy. Now, in Lincoln: A Very Short Introduction, the award-winning Lincoln authority Allen C. Guelzo offers a penetrating look into the mind of one of our greatest presidents. 
 
 
 
Guelzo takes us on a wide-ranging exploration of problems that confronted Lincoln and liberal democracy—equality, opportunity, the rule of law, slavery, freedom, peace, and his legacy. The Lincoln we meet here is an Enlightenment figure who struggled to create a common ground between a people focused on individual rights and a society eager to establish a certain moral, philosophical, and intellectual bedrock. Lincoln insisted that liberal democracy had a higher purpose, which was the realization of a morally right political order. But how to interject that sense of moral order into a system that values personal self-satisfaction—"the pursuit of happiness"—remains a fundamental dilemma even today. 
 
 
 
Guelzo paints a marvelous portrait of this Lincoln—Lincoln the man of ideas—providing new insights into one of the giants of American history.

Show book

You've Got This - Seven Steps to...

Michaela Dunbar

From a rising clinical psychologist and founder of Instagram’s @myeasytherapy, an accessible, life-enhancing guide to reframing self-doubt and negative thought patterns to unlock your potential.
?We all experience self-doubt and anxiety at certain points throughout our lives, some of us more often and more intensely than others. Anxiety is an emotion, a chemical reaction, and a fundamental part of being human. It can help us to stay alert and focused, spur us to action, and motivate us to solve problems. But left unchecked, it can have the opposite effect, holding us back and preventing us from living the lives we want.
In You’ve Got This, Dr. Michaela Dunbar introduces the program she’s developed after years of helping ambitious women master their anxiety and overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Through her clinical practice as well as engaging with thousands of women through her online platform, Dr. Michaela has identified the seven key ways high-functioning anxiety can manifest in our lives, from people pleasing to becoming overwhelmed to the obsession with perfectionism, and shows us how to transform negative thoughts and paralyzing emotions into positive action.
Dr. Michaela’s goal is to help you struggle less and thrive more. Instead of succumbing to self-doubt, Dr. Michaela teaches you how to set boundaries, avoid burnout, and free yourself from the traps of overthinking. Accessible, inclusive, and deeply informative, You’ve Got This is for anyone who wants to let go of limiting beliefs, overthinking, and anxiety—and learn to step confidently into a life they love.

Show book

Happiness: From Brain...

Dr. COSTA P

”If you are someone who is organized, methodical, perfectionist, meticulous and... yet you don`t know what is wrong with your life, this book is for you!” 
Will you be able to change your life despite the pranks of your brain? Our brain often deceives us and plays tricks on us by giving us the illusion of joy and happiness. Habituation to happiness is a phenomenon that wears down what makes us happy or joyful. In this book, you will learn about mechanisms that control our brain and understand why we are never satisfied. In short, you will decipher what creates frustration and how the five ephemeral elements of the brain work. Then, you will take charge of your life and be able to change using the five sustainable values of the brain to focus more on contentment and appreciation of the pleasant sensations offered to you by life. It is a motivational book that will help you to discover a lot about yourself. “Will you be able to do it?”

Show book

What the Anti-Federalists Were...

Herbert J. Storing

The Anti-Federalists, in Herbert J. Storing’s view, are somewhat paradoxically entitled to be counted among the Founding Fathers and to share in the honor and study devoted to the founding. “If the foundations of the American polity was laid by the Federalists,” he writes, “the Anti-Federalist reservations echo through American history; and it is in the dialogue, not merely in the Federalist victory, that the country’s principles are to be discovered.” It was largely through their efforts, he reminds us, that the Constitution was so quickly amended to include a bill of rights.Storing here offers a brilliant introduction to the thought and principles of the Anti-Federalists as they were understood by themselves and by other men and women of their time. His comprehensive exposition restores to our understanding the Anti-Federalist share in the founding its effect on some of the enduring themes and tensions of American political life. The concern with big government and infringement of personal liberty one finds in the writings of these neglected Founders strikes a remarkably timely note.

Show book