Victorian Scribblers
Two Victorianists get chatty about the lives and work of the nineteenth-century writers time forgot.

S2:E5 – Rectors, Vicars, and Curates

Episode 7.5 – Rectors, Vicars, and Curates (or, what’s up with all this religious terminology?) Some important dates: 1454 or 5 – Johannes Gutenberg printed the Gutenberg Bibles putting religion and literacy into the hands of the public! (htt

Episode 7.5 – Rectors, Vicars, and Curates (or, what’s up with all this religious terminology?) Some important dates: 1454 or 5 – Johannes Gutenberg printed the Gutenberg Bibles putting religion and literacy into the hands of the public! (http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/gutenbergbible/) 1517 – Martin Luther’s 95 Theses …

S2:E4 – Frances Milton Trollope (Part Three)

… [Continued from Part Two] During this time, Fanny falls ill and, though she eventually recovers, her eyesight is significantly weakened. But Fanny has begun writing what is to be the first of many books: Domestic Manners. Her experiences also inf

… [Continued from Part Two] During this time, Fanny falls ill and, though she eventually recovers, her eyesight is significantly weakened. But Fanny has begun writing what is to be the first of many books: Domestic Manners. Her experiences also influence her opinions about America …

S2:E3 – Frances Milton Trollope (Part Two)

In Part One, we left our intrepid adventurer aboard a ship and on the way to Frances Wright’s Nashoba Commune in Tennessee to try to improve her life. Let’s find out more about her voyage!   Before we do, though, I need to make a …

In Part One, we left our intrepid adventurer aboard a ship and on the way to Frances Wright’s Nashoba Commune in Tennessee to try to improve her life. Let’s find out more about her voyage!   Before we do, though, I need to make a …

S2:E1 – Frances Milton Trollope (Part One)

Welcome to the first full episode of season two: Episode 7 – Frances Milton Trollope Best known now as the mother of successful Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, Frances, or Fanny as she was more usually called, was a literary force in her own r

Welcome to the first full episode of season two: Episode 7 – Frances Milton Trollope Best known now as the mother of successful Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, Frances, or Fanny as she was more usually called, was a literary force in her own right. She’s …

S2:E1 – Season Two Intro: Fannies and Trollopes

Happy New Year, listeners!   Last March, I took the plunge and launched Victorian Scribblers. My first year podcasting had its ups and downs, of course. Ask almost any podcaster and they’ll tell you there’s a steep learning curve if you want to get

Happy New Year, listeners!   Last March, I took the plunge and launched Victorian Scribblers. My first year podcasting had its ups and downs, of course. Ask almost any podcaster and they’ll tell you there’s a steep learning curve if you want to get involved …

S1:E10 – The Scribblers Who Created Christmas (Part Two)

So, Gaskell’s story of the prodigal son, who returns to rob the parents who believe he is dead is much closer to Dickens’s theme than he may have realised and, as Fran Baker points out “much more disturbing than any supernatural haunting.” As I said&#160

So, Gaskell’s story of the prodigal son, who returns to rob the parents who believe he is dead is much closer to Dickens’s theme than he may have realised and, as Fran Baker points out “much more disturbing than any supernatural haunting.” As I said …

S1:E9 – The Scribblers Who Created Christmas (Part One)

Episode 5 – The Scribblers who Created Christmas Charles Dickens is perhaps the most famous writer of the Victorian era, he’s also a key player in the Victorian creation of Christmas and especially Christmas stories. A Christmas Carol is obviously

Episode 5 – The Scribblers who Created Christmas Charles Dickens is perhaps the most famous writer of the Victorian era, he’s also a key player in the Victorian creation of Christmas and especially Christmas stories. A Christmas Carol is obviously a mainstay of Christmas plays …

BONUS EPISODE: Live from NAVSA 2017

Hi listeners, This episode was recorded live at the North American Victorian Studies Association (NAVSA) conference in Banff, Alberta. I was joined by Alison Hedley (@HedleyAlison), Tom Stuart (@tmatthewstuart), and Miranda Butler (@mirandactl), and we c

Hi listeners, This episode was recorded live at the North American Victorian Studies Association (NAVSA) conference in Banff, Alberta. I was joined by Alison Hedley (@HedleyAlison), Tom Stuart (@tmatthewstuart), and Miranda Butler (@mirandactl), and we chatted about favorite Victorian writers, research projects, and more. Miranda …

S1:E8 – Braddon's Legacy

UPDATE: Anna would like to clarify that the Braddon centenary conference, in which the Braddon Association participated, was organized by Anne-Marie Beller of Loughborough University in the UK. Hi listeners! In today’s episode, I (Courtney) chat wi

UPDATE: Anna would like to clarify that the Braddon centenary conference, in which the Braddon Association participated, was organized by Anne-Marie Beller of Loughborough University in the UK. Hi listeners! In today’s episode, I (Courtney) chat with a friend of mine (Anna Brecke) about Braddon’s …

S1:E7 – Braddon's Writing (Part Two)

Episode 4 (Part Two): “Herself” chs 3-5 & discussion Shout-out to new Patron, Lyn Baines! Thank you for helping make this podcast possible! Special halloween sound effects recorded by Daniel Simion, CC license here. I did some digging abo

Episode 4 (Part Two): “Herself” chs 3-5 & discussion Shout-out to new Patron, Lyn Baines! Thank you for helping make this podcast possible! Special halloween sound effects recorded by Daniel Simion, CC license here. I did some digging about the game bezique: instructions here. Do you play? …

S1:E6 – Braddon's Writing (Part One)

Episode 4 Part One: Process and ‘Herself’ Ch. 1-2   6 August 1887, article titled “Miss Braddon at Home” in the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News. Based on her archives, we also know that she kept working journals where she recorded observat

Episode 4 Part One: Process and ‘Herself’ Ch. 1-2   6 August 1887, article titled “Miss Braddon at Home” in the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News. Based on her archives, we also know that she kept working journals where she recorded observations, descriptions, …

S1:E5 – Mary Elizabeth Braddon (Part Two)

1852: we know she started acting. Now, I mentioned this briefly in the Wilkie Collins bio episode, but to the Victorian mind, actors were all loose and not respectable. A young lady who took up acting was, by society’s estimate, a RUINED young lady.But B

1852: we know she started acting. Now, I mentioned this briefly in the Wilkie Collins bio episode, but to the Victorian mind, actors were all loose and not respectable. A young lady who took up acting was, by society’s estimate, a RUINED young lady.But Braddon’s …

S1:E4 – Mary Elizabeth Braddon (Part One)

DISCLAIMER: the audio quality on this episode is not great. I hit a sharp learning curve and didn’t anticipate the editing problems I’d run into. In Ep 3 (Part Two), the quality is a bit better–in Episode 4 and beyond the quality is bac

DISCLAIMER: the audio quality on this episode is not great. I hit a sharp learning curve and didn’t anticipate the editing problems I’d run into. In Ep 3 (Part Two), the quality is a bit better–in Episode 4 and beyond the quality is back to …

S1:E3 – Newspaper Novels

Scholars used to think that the 3 volume novel (or triple decker) was the most prominent form of novel publication in the Victorian era. It was certainly the most bourgeoisie, middle-class status symbol form of the book in the nineteenth century. But for

Scholars used to think that the 3 volume novel (or triple decker) was the most prominent form of novel publication in the Victorian era. It was certainly the most bourgeoisie, middle-class status symbol form of the book in the nineteenth century. But for most of …

S1:E2 – Wilkie's Writing

EPISODE 2 – WILKIE’s WRITING “Our words are giant when they do us an injury, and dwarves when they do us a service.” 2 parts: PROCESS & PROSE PROCESS: –19 out of 23 novels serialized in periodicals –newspapers and/or “magazines” which ra

EPISODE 2 – WILKIE’s WRITING “Our words are giant when they do us an injury, and dwarves when they do us a service.” 2 parts: PROCESS & PROSE PROCESS: –19 out of 23 novels serialized in periodicals –newspapers and/or “magazines” which ranged from the types …

S1:E1 – Wilkie Collins

“Our words are giant when they do us an injury, and dwarves when they do us a service.” I. WILLIAM WILKIE COLLINS II. Historical Context: a. 1824 — George IV is 4 yrs in to his 10 yr reign, having succeeded his mentally unstable father, &#8230

“Our words are giant when they do us an injury, and dwarves when they do us a service.” I. WILLIAM WILKIE COLLINS II. Historical Context: a. 1824 — George IV is 4 yrs in to his 10 yr reign, having succeeded his mentally unstable father, …

Not Jane Austen

In which I take on Jane Austen…and provisionally outline what actually counts as “Victorian.” Fortify yourselves, because I put on my ranting pants.  DISCLAIMER: in this episode, I state that Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1902. In fact, she died

In which I take on Jane Austen…and provisionally outline what actually counts as “Victorian.” Fortify yourselves, because I put on my ranting pants.  DISCLAIMER: in this episode, I state that Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1902. In fact, she died in 1901. So, the correct date …

Intro

Show Notes: As promised, a quick overview of non-academic, but informative and entertaining podcast episodes about Victorians / Writers. The History Chicks (a podcast I love and highly recommend): Queen Victoria (part one here, part two here) L

Show Notes: As promised, a quick overview of non-academic, but informative and entertaining podcast episodes about Victorians / Writers. The History Chicks (a podcast I love and highly recommend): Queen Victoria (part one here, part two here) Lewis Carroll Beatrix Potter I’m sure this isn’t an all-inclusive …