This book comprises 34 concise essays on the state of 19th century Britain by leading international scholars. It focuses upon the major aspects of the political, social, economic and cultural history of Britain during the late Georgian and Victorian eras. The Companion is divided into five sections: Britain and the World, Politics and Government, Economy and Society, Society and Culture and the United Kingdom. All the essays pay attention to the experiences of women as well as of men, and to regional and national variations across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The essays are laid out in a clear and concise manner and are also illustrated with maps and charts where deemed appropriate.
Part one on Britain and the World looks at how Britain was held in the highest esteem in the 19th century. Britain at this time was pivotal to the success of the world economy and the Companion looks at how this affected its relationships with other countries. Britain's success in this period was ultimately down to the industrial revolution, when rapid advancement in production technology progressed at an unprecedented rate, and the adoption of free trade. The essay by Spiers focuses on how the British army was used to further the foreign policy of the British Government.
Traditionally, the political world of the 19th century had no place for women, so it is interesting to see that this book has an essay dedicated to women and politics. Social history today has helped reassess the belief that women were inactive politically, showing that women were involved in the anti‐slavery movement and the anti‐corn law league to name a few. Ultimately some women managed to achieve the municipal vote and stood as candidates in parish and district councils. The essay by Sarah Richardson readdresses the gender bias of politics and proves that women did play an active role in a marginalized period.
In the 19th century, Britain was in the grips of colossal social change, reflected in the essays featured in part three on Economy and Society. Whilst the middle and upper classes benefited from free trade and increased production, the labouring classes increasingly suffered. Simon Gunn's essay on urbanization is worthy of a mention. The industrial revolution meant an increase in people moving from the country to the city as more work became available. This development led to overcrowding and horrifying slums. The impact of the industrial revolution on the family was phenomenal. Class rivalries were very prevalent in this era as the working classes were exclude from politics and were constantly marginalized and demoralized, as is shown in a further essay by Hewitt.
Part four on Society and Culture is very closely linked with the previous section. It follows on with essays on religion, education, crime, leisure, medicine and sexuality. In the 19th century discourses surrounding these issues were virulent and they were all very closely linked. Social panic was created through prostitution and was viewed as a great social evil that would destroy the family and religion. Initiatives were frequently set up to educate the women involved in this trade and rescue them from a life of immorality. The Contagious Diseases act was introduced in the 1860s to try and alleviate the number of navy and army personnel who were contracting syphilis and other sexual diseases. Heather Shore's essay on crime and Lesley Hall's on sexuality are perfect introductions to these topics.
The section on the United Kingdom looks at the separate histories and interactions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland and how debates came about leading to the construction of an overarching British identity in this era. Each chapter in the companion is followed by a guide to further reading and details of all works cited in the notes and guides are found in the bibliography of secondary sources at the back of the book.
It was disappointing to see that some aspects of the 19th century were not featured in the Companion, such as poverty, philanthropy, housing and hygiene. Williams, the editor, does comment on the fact that these aspects are missing and it is obviously impossible to include everything. While to some this would not seem important; the book would have benefited greatly from the coverage of these issues.
In conclusion, whilst areas are missing, this book is an excellent companion alongside other works covering this period. It is an ideal book for anyone interested in the history of the 19th century. As the book states, “the essays are written in a clear, provocative and lively manner, designed for an international audience of scholars, students and general readers”.
