Victorian Sensation

Or the Spectacular, the Shocking and the Scandalous in Nineteenth-Century Britain

Michael Diamond author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Anthem Press

Published:1st Aug '03

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Victorian Sensation cover

A captivating look at the scandalous and sensational media stories that gripped Victorian society.

A captivating look at the origins of our own tabloid culture in the salacious and titillating media of the Victorian era.

'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'


'Entertaining… the newspapers were offering a glimpse into another kind of world, an assertion that people living not very far away from the reader had a very different, and probably more exciting, lifestyle.' —'Guardian'


'This is a fun book. The reader is constantly thinking , "Ah that's what it was all about…" The book is well illustrated with the sort of ephemera of the period that is now so sought after, and there are many quotes from the music hall balladeers who were quick to latch on to each and every sensation as soon as it became hot news.' —'Bookdealer'

ISBN: 9781843310761

Dimensions: 234mm x 155mm x 26mm

Weight: 454g

336 pages