Victorian Engagements with the Bible and Antiquity: The Shock of the Old

The nineteenth century saw a challenge to ideas of history and time, and this book explores how the study of classical antiquity and the Bible formed a central image of the past in Victorian self-understanding. It provides a rich and readable feast of essays that reveal the importance of these models of antiquity in expressing modernity and fuelling cultural anxiety and hope.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The nineteenth century was a transformative era that saw profound challenges to prevailing notions of history and time. This groundbreaking work is the first to explore the profound intersection between the study of classical antiquity and the study of the Bible, resulting in a collective image of the past that played a central role in shaping Victorian self-identity. A collection of specially commissioned, multi-disciplinary essays, this volume unveils the rich tapestry of Victorian thinking about the past and the profound impact these ancient models had on the expression of modernity. Amidst a period of rapid progress and cultural upheaval, the shock of the old—new discoveries about the distant past and innovative ways of understanding humanity's place in history—fueled a sense of cultural anxiety and hope. This volume offers a captivating and accessible feast that will be invaluable to scholars and enthusiasts alike, providing a deeper understanding of the Victorians, the reception of classical texts, and the enduring significance of the Bible in shaping our collective historical consciousness.

ISBN-13: 9781009306454