2.  Early Period (1832-1848): The Victorian Age began in 1837 when Victoria was 18 and became the Queen of England.  During this era, England became the world’s wealthiest nation.  Living and working conditions in industrial cities in Northern England were the worst ever.  The people of this age made large-scale attempts to solve the problems from the Romantic Age.  Victorians were voracious readers.

3.  The Middle Period(1848-1870): During this period England reached its height of wealth and productivity as an industrial nation.  London had a population of two million and had became the center for banking, insurance, and shipping.  London had also grown twice as large, doubling population.  Thomas Babington Macaulay based his optimism on the conviction that history, technology, free enterprise, and God were all working in harmony toward the betterment of human beings.

4.  The Late Period (1870-1901)- The British Empire reached the height of its power and influence.  Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) introduced readers to the larger world through tales and ballads of British India and was known as a poet and storyteller.  More than ever, middle class Victorians were living prosperous lives filled with comfort and serenity.  Queen Victoria was made Empress of India in 1876.  Queen Victoria passed away in 1901.

5.  Huge growth in population  Improvements in technology  Changing world views  Poor conditions for working class  British Manufacturing  British power  The rail network  Earnestness, self-satisfaction, and anxiety  Believed in hard work, moral seriousness, and social respectability  Believed happiness and success could be achieved through hard work

6. Connection to Wuthering Heights  The novel connects between the Romantic and the Victorian social and literacy eras  The old Heathcliff is a Victorian while the young Heathcliff is a romantic  Earnshaw’s represent the Romantics  Linton’s represent the Victorians

7. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)  Born November 13, 1850 in Eclinburgh, Scotland. He was a Scottish novelist, poet and travel writer. He died on December 3, 1894 at the age of 44 in the Samoan Islands. He was married to Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne and had two step-kids.  Education: 1857- Mr. Henderson’s School and private tutors 1861- Edinburgh Academy 1863- Boarding School 1864- Robert Thomson’s School 1867- University of Edinburgh  Notable Works: Treasure Island (1883), A Child’s Garden of Verses, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

8. A.E. Housman (1859-1936)  Born March 26, 1859 in the United Kingdom  Died April 30, 1936 at the age of 77 in the UK  Occupation: Classicist and poet  Nationality: British  Education: St. John’s College, Oxford  Genre: Lyric Poetry  Works: A Shropshire Lad (1896), Last Poems (1922)

9. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)  Born June 2, 1840 in Stinsford, England  Died January 11, 1928 in Dorchester, England  Occupation: Novelist, poet, short story writer  Education: King’s College, London  Literary Movement: Naturalism, Victorian Literature  Spouse: Emma Lavinia Gifford (1847-1912)  Notable Works: Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Far From the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure

10. Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)  Born December 4, 1795  Died February 5, 1881  Spouse: Jane Welsh, married for forty years  Occupation: 19 th Century Scottish essayist, historian and satirical writer  Notable Works: Sartor Resartus (1833), The French Revolution

11. Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)  Born August 6, 1809 in the UK  Died October 6, 1892 in England  Spouse: Emily Sullwood  Notable Works: The Eagle (1851), Ring Out, Wild Bells (1850), The Two Voices (1834), In Memoriam (1850)

12. Charles Darwin (1809-1882)  Born February 12, 1809  Was a naturalist and geologist and a prolific writer  He wrote about his theory of evolution  Studied at the University of Edinburgh  Married Emma Wedgewood  Died April 19, 1882

13. Karl Marx (1818-1883)  Born on May 5 1818  Was a philosopher  He wrote the Communist Manifest  Studied at the University of Jena and University of Bonn  Married Jenny Von Westphalen  Died march 14 1883

14. Elizabeth Barntt Browning (1806-1861)  Born March 6, 1806 in England  Oldest of twelve children, and she was also educated at home  She grew up in a religious household  Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850)  Wrote poem of all sorts  Died June 29, 1861 in Florence, Italy

15. Charles Dickens (1812-1870)  Born February 7, 1812 in England  British novelist who was well loved and he was a prolific author of numerous works that are now considered classics  In and out of school  Married to Catherine Hoharth  Notable Works: Oliver Twist (1832), Hard Times (1854), A Christmas Carol (1843)  Died June 9, 1870 in England

16. Robert Browning (1812-1889)  Born May 7, 1812 in the United Kingdom  Went to school and was also educated at home. Studied at the University of London  Never married  Outstanding poet  Notable Works: Men and Women (1855), The Ring and the Book (1868-69)  Died December 12, 1889 in Venice, Italy