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'Victorian Sensation' sheds light on the Victorians' fascination with celebrity culture and their obsession with gruesome and explicit reportage of murders and sex scandals. With a vivid cast of characters, ranging from the serial poisoner William Palmer, to Charles Dickens, Jumbo the Elephant, distinguished politicians and even the Queen herself, this passionate analysis of the period reveals how the reporting methods of our own popular media have their origins in the Victorian press, and shows that sensation was as integral a part of society in the nineteenth century as it is today.
'This enthralling book shows that the Victorians revelled in political and sexual scandals, murder reports, and the antics of royalty, the upper classes and celebrities. Diamond tackles his theme with verve and skill.' —'Sunday Times'
Michael Diamond has been an editor, producer and presenter for the BBC, where he worked on 'The World at One' and the 'BBC World Service'. He has a lifelong interest in the Victorian Age. He is also the author of 'Lesser Breeds: Racial Attitudes in Popular British Culture, 1890–1940' (Anthem Press, 2006).
Introduction; Chapter 1: Royalty; Chapter 2: Political Movements; Chapter 3: Religion and Morality; Chapter 4: Sex Scandal; Chapter 5: Murder; Chapter 6: The 'Sensation Novel'; Chapter 7: The 'Sensation Drama'; Chapter 8: Stars of Entertainment; Afterword; Chronology of the Main Events Mentioned; Notes; Index