Seances and spiritualism were quite popular within the Victorian Era. Death became a sort of friend to the Victorians; knocking on doors, often coming with traditions such as mourning wear, locks of hair being worn in a brooch or locket, or ring; even death photography which was popular during this time, allowed for a commemoration of deceased loved ones.
Museums, Morality, and Masculinity in Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Lot No. 249”
Behind the Bookshelf III: In this edition, I invite you to consider museums and the cultural work they do. While museums are spaces of conservation and education, they can also be spaces of appropriation and theft. Let's examine the case of a Victorian-era fictional character with a taste for collecting Egyptian artifacts!
A Readerly Window into Womanhood: Margaret Oliphant’s “The Library Window”
Behind the Bookshelf II:
The cushioned seat of Dalnavert’s grand bay window would have been a lovely spot for the Macdonalds to cuddle up with a book. After studying the hauntingly perplexing short story “The Library Window,” I am inclined to believe that Maragaret Oliphant would agree that this spot has a comforting appeal!
Disrespecting the Dinner Table in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights
Behind the Bookshelf I: The Dalnavert dining room is set for a festive meal. However, this spotless setting is not necessarily representative of all Victorian mealtimes… To explore some unorthodox dining practices, look no further than the much-debated character of Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.
