Showing results by author "Giles Lytton Strachey" in All Categories

Lytton Strachey’s groundbreaking work, Eminent Victorians (1918), captivated readers with its sharp wit and insightful exploration of Victorian figures. In this compelling follow-up, Queen Victoria (1921), he delves deeper into the life of one of historys most iconic monarchs, revealing the complexities and contradictions that defined her reign. Strachey masterfully balances humor and critique, shedding light on the pervasive hypocrisy of Victorian morality while humanizing his subjects. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Ranked on Modern Librarys list of 100 Best Non-Fiction books, Eminent Victorians revolutionized the art of biography and shattered the old-fashioned myths of Victorian society. With his piercing insight, Strachey unearths the self-serving motives of Cardinal Manning and the obsessively controlling Florence Nightingale. His essays on Dr Arnold and General Gordon transcend the individuals, critiquing the broader public-school system and the entrenched liberal values of the nineteenth century.