Victorian Era – A Golden Era to Remember

The Victorian era or the Victorian period refers to the period of June 1837 to January 1901; and was named after Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire during this period. This era has been held as a period of prosperity and development in regard to the British Empire. The period was characterized by a number of important events of socio economic importance, such as industrial development and the development of a bigger, stronger and more educated middle class.

The main feature of this period had however been the major development in the arena of art and culture. This period was marked by the intense adventurism in the turf of literature by great novelists as well as poets in particular.

It is worth mentioning that a number of talented Litterateurs of the English language were present during this era. The rich list of these Litterateurs include Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Christina Rossetti, Emily Bronte, Lewis Carroll, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, George Meredith, H. G. Wells, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Benjamin Disraeli, George Eliot, Bram Stoker, Elizabeth Gaskell, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson, George Gissing, Thomas Hardy, A. E. Housman, Anthony Trollope, George MacDonald, G.M. Hopkins, Philip Meadows Taylor, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Oscar Wilde and William Thackeray.

The Victorian era is quite often known for a long phase of peace, also known as Pax Britannica. This period is also known for the colonial, economic, as well as industrial consolidation. The period of peace was disrupted temporarily by the Crimean War, even though Britain had been at war each year during this period. By the end of the century, policies of New Imperialism resulted in increasing colonial conflicts, which ultimately led to the Anglo-Zanzibar War as well as the Boer War. In the domestic arena the agenda was getting increasingly liberal characterized by a number of changes in the direction of political reforms as well as the widening of voting franchise.

Britain in the Victorian period, just like the periods preceding it, had been interested in theatre, arts, music, drama, as well as opera; and was widely attended. Apart from these, there were, other forms of entertainment, as well. Gambling in cards in the establishments also known as casinos were widely popular during this period. In fact, they became co popular, that even the evangelical as well as reform movements particularly targeted such establishments, as per their efforts for stopping gambling and drinking. Despite such drawbacks, the Victorian period is a golden era to remember.