Eminent Victorians
Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey, published by Penguin Publishing Group in 1986, is a revised edition that spans 288 pages. This work is recognized for its significant impact on the genre of biography, challenging traditional narratives of high Victorianism and revealing the complexities behind notable figures of the era. Strachey critically examines the lives of Cardinal Manning and Florence Nightingale, while also addressing broader themes related to the public-school system and the liberal values of the nineteenth century.
Readers will find that this book presents a nuanced exploration of its subjects, delving into the self-serving ambitions and psychological intricacies of its characters. Strachey’s essays not only illuminate the lives of these historical figures but also critique the cultural and social constructs of their time. Eminent Victorians engages with themes of biography and history, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in the cultural landscape of Great Britain during the 19th century.
Official synopsis Publisher
A genre-changing work of biography
Eminent Victorians marked an epoch in the art of biography; it also helped to crack the old myths of high Victorianism and to usher in a new spirit by which chauvinism, hypocrisy and the stiff upper lip were debunked. In it, Strachey cleverly exposes the self-seeking ambitions of Cardinal Manning and the manipulative, neurotic Florence Nightingale; and in his essays on Dr Arnold and General Gordon, his quarries are not only his subjects but also the public-school system and the whole structure of nineteenth-century liberal values.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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