In 19th century London, mail was delivered up to 19 times a day. Postage in England was based on sheets and distance before the use of stamps. Recipients could reject mail if they didn’t want to pay. Long before the advent of telephones and e-mail, postal delivery was the primary way people stayed in touch, […]
The ‘window tax’ in Victorian England was a property tax based on the number of windows in a house. Poor families closed windows to avoid the tax. Charles Dickens opposed the tax and became a successful writer despite his difficult upbringing. It seems unfathomable today, but if you owned a home in Victorian England and […]
Victorian jewelry was produced during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. It is associated with rigid etiquette, formal dress, and ornate décor. Jewelry was made by hand or in factories, with hair work, cameos, and mourning jewelry being popular. The style is heavy and elegant, with jet, diamond, and coral. Reproduction jewelry […]
Victorian women wore drawers, shirts, corsets, petticoats, and camisoles as undergarments. Drawers were worn first, followed by a shirt to protect clothing from sweat and chafing. The corset compressed the torso for a slender shape, while petticoats added volume to skirts. Camisoles were worn over corsets to hide them and create a layer between the […]
Victorian mourning was elaborate and ritualized, but mostly limited to the upper classes. Widows had three periods of mourning, with full mourning lasting a year and a day. The rules were complex and many consulted social guides. The trend ended with the death of Queen Victoria and the Edwardian era. Victorian mourning is often a […]
Victorian poetry includes British and Irish works from Queen Victoria’s reign, characterized by sentimentality, chivalrous themes, and a shift away from Romanticism. Notable poets include Tennyson, the Brownings, and the Rossettis. The era’s literature is diverse and influenced by industrialization and technological breakthroughs. Victorian poetry is seen as a bridge between Romanticism and Modernism. Victorian […]
Victorian fiction refers to stories written during Queen Victoria’s reign, with the novel becoming the primary literary form. It featured hardworking protagonists and idealized portrayals of humanity. The era saw the rise of women writers and children’s fiction, as well as the detective and science fiction genres. Victorian fiction refers to fictional stories written during […]
