What are the main themes in 19th Century English literature?
The latter part of the century is dominated by people like Charles Dickens, and Mrs Gaskell who appealed to a mass audience and raised concerns about social privations in an industirialised society. But there was romance – the earlier part of the century saw the publication of the Waverly novels by Sir Walter Scott – so it’s not all about boys being sent up chimneys (Charles Kinglsey – The Water Babies) – and of course the Bronte Sisters and their consumptive contributions.
