Overview

The Victorian novel's depiction of the young middle-class male as he encounters the commercial ethos and the competitive marketplace serves as the starting point for The Inward Revolution. This study traces the development of the troubled young man through mid-Victorian fiction and periodicals. Set in the rich fabric of the history and social commentary of the day, the book examines characters from the novels of Charles Kingsley, Charles Dickens, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, George Eliot, Henry James, and Oscar Wilde. This examination provides a fresh reading of what the Victorians called the Woman Question. The Inward Revolution also complements contemporary feminist analysis. The book offers a new perspective on a hitherto unexplored area of Victorian studies.

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9780820419688

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Reviews

For many readers the most engaging feature of Tuss's work is his recovery of a wealth of material from the major Victorian periodicals such as 'Fraser's Magazine', the 'Quarterly Review, Macmillan's Magazine'. Authors of such forgotten pieces as 'The Disappointing Boy,' 'Nephews,' and 'Loose Men' offer conflicting advice couched in deeply irreconcilable metaphors. Tuss shows that in its ongoing reaction to the contemporary novel, to legal and social changes in the status of women, and to male concerns generally, this rich periodical discourse contributed to the Victorians' shifting ideology of manhood. (Constance W. Hassett, Fordham University) Expertly examining fiction, discussions in periodicals, and social norms, Alex Tuss's study provides a much needed gender-conscious study of males and masculinity in mid-Victorian England. (Eugene R. August, University of Dayton) This is the first book-length study of the problem of the troubled young man in mid-Victorian literature and society. It offers a valuable supplement to recent feminist studies of the mid-Victorian 'woman question,' along with subtle and insightful new readings of several classic novels. It is sure to be of interest to all those concerned with 19th-century English culture. (Walter Kendrick, Fordham University)

Author Information

The Author: Alex J. Tuss, S.M., a Loyola Fellow and Phi Beta Kappa, is Professor of English at the University of Dayton. He received his B.S. from the University of Dayton and his Ph.D. from Fordham University. He is presently at work preparing an edition of articles form Victorian periodicals.

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