Fifty Years Ago

Walter Besant (1836 - 1901)

Sir Walter Besant (1836-1901) was a prolific novelist and historian. He wrote Fifty Years Ago to present a picture of life, manners, and society in Great Britain as it was when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne. In 1837, the seeds of new technology and new ideas were present and monumental changes from the ways of the 1700's were about to be felt. Starting first in London and over several decades, the progress moved outwards to the country towns of the British Isles. - Summary by Gary Clayton

Genre(s): Modern (19th C)

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface garybclayton
00:06:28
Play 01 Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies garybclayton
00:25:17
Play 02 The Year 1837 garybclayton
00:15:03
Play 03 London in 1837 garybclayton
00:18:48
Play 04 In the Street Jim Locke
00:23:17
Play 05 With the People Jim Locke
00:24:43
Play 06 With the Middle-Class Jim Locke
00:33:19
Play 07 In Society Jim Locke
00:21:34
Play 08 At the Play and the Show Jim Locke
00:15:34
Play 09 In the House Jim Locke
00:16:19
Play 10 At School and University Jim Locke
00:08:09
Play 11 The Tavern Jim Locke
00:18:52
Play 12 In Club- and Card-Land Jim Locke
00:10:45
Play 13 With the Wits Jim Locke
00:26:00
Play 14 Journals and Journalists Jim Locke
00:07:59
Play 15 The Sportsman Jim Locke
00:20:24
Play 16 In Factory and Mine Jim Locke
00:13:19
Play 17 With the Men of Science Jim Locke
00:07:12
Play 18 Law and Justice Jim Locke
00:32:20
Play 19 Conclusion Jim Locke
00:16:02