Convalescence in the Nineteenth-Century Novel: The Afterlife of Victorian Illness

In the 19th century, post-acute care was seen as a way to alleviate physical and social ills, uniting patients of disparate social classes, disease categories, and degrees of impairment. Novels from Bleak House to The Secret Garden draw on the unhurried timescale of convalescence as an ethical paradigm, training readers to value unfolding narratives apart from their ultimate resolutions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In the bustling era of Victorian Britain, a revival of traditional convalescent caregiving emerged as a response to the demands of a fast-paced modern world. Nineteenth-century thinkers believed that all medical patients, regardless of their social status or circumstances, required an extended and meandering period of recovery to fully heal. A group of reformers dedicated themselves to expanding the benefits of holistic recuperative care to seemingly unlikely groups, including working-class hospital patients, inmates in insane asylums, and even low-ranking soldiers across the vast British Empire.

Hosanna Krienke, in her groundbreaking scholarly work, provides the first comprehensive examination of nineteenth-century convalescent culture. Through her analysis, Krienke unveils how interpersonal post-acute care was hailed as a vital complement to modern scientific medicine. Convalescence, as a method of caregiving aimed at addressing both physical and social ailments, brought together patients from diverse social backgrounds, disease categories, and levels of impairment.

This study demonstrates how novels such as Bleak House and The Secret Garden utilize the unhurried timescale of convalescence as an ethical paradigm, teaching readers to appreciate the value of unfolding narratives beyond their immediate resolutions. By delving into the experiences of patients during their recovery, these works encourage a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature and the importance of compassion and empathy in healthcare.

The resurgence of convalescent caregiving in Victorian Britain reflected a broader shift towards holistic and compassionate approaches to medicine. It underscored the recognition that recovery was not solely about physical healing but also about addressing the social and emotional needs of patients. The reformers who worked to expand the benefits of convalescence paved the way for a more inclusive and patient-centered healthcare system that continues to evolve today.

ISBN-13: 9781108948913