Victorian literature

Victorian literature, flourishing roughly between 1837 and 1901, emerged during a period of immense change in Britain, marked by industrialization, imperial expansion, and social upheaval. This era saw a shift in literary focus, with the novel becoming the dominant form, surpassing poetry and drama.123

Key characteristics include:
* Realism and Social Commentary: Writers like William Makepeace Thackeray and Elizabeth Gaskell explored social issues, urban poverty, and class distinctions.1
* Psychological Depth: Authors such as the Brontë sisters, particularly Emily Brontë in Wuthering Heights, delved into complex characters and elemental passions.4
* Self-Consciousness and Irony: The literature often reflected an awareness of its own form and societal changes, sometimes with a satirical edge.15
* Diverse Genres: While realism was prominent, the period also saw a revival of romance, Gothic elements, and early science fiction.3

Victorian literature grappled with the paradoxes of progress, faith versus science, and the tension between respectability and underlying social currents.12