Martin Hewitt
@vicmanch.bsky.social
Victorianist. President of the British Association for Victorian Studies. Just published Darwinism's Generations. The Reception of Darwinian Evolution in Britain, 1859-1909. https://tinyurl.com/52xkw9rj Check me out at profmartinhewitt.com
I might have solved the mystery of Sarah Lewis, author of *Woman's Mission*, key text of Victorian separate spheres ideology. The ODNB states nothing is known about her, but I have evidence to suggest she was Sarah Lewis (1807-1878), headmistress of a girls' boarding school in Putney in the 1840/50s
October 4, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I might have solved the mystery of Sarah Lewis, author of *Woman's Mission*, key text of Victorian separate spheres ideology. The ODNB states nothing is known about her, but I have evidence to suggest she was Sarah Lewis (1807-1878), headmistress of a girls' boarding school in Putney in the 1840/50s
Nice to come home from a short break and find my copy of the Nineteenth-Century Present. I had fun teasing out the generational preoccupations of the Edwardian 'greats'. I encourage you to check out the whole collection - there's a lot of interesting work here!
August 4, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Nice to come home from a short break and find my copy of the Nineteenth-Century Present. I had fun teasing out the generational preoccupations of the Edwardian 'greats'. I encourage you to check out the whole collection - there's a lot of interesting work here!
Got the poster of Darwinism's Generations framed for my birthday. It looks really good, but suspect hanging it would be just too narcissistic! Anyone else been here?
June 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Got the poster of Darwinism's Generations framed for my birthday. It looks really good, but suspect hanging it would be just too narcissistic! Anyone else been here?
Came across what I think is a previously unknown Darwin letter while browsing in The Live Stock Journal. It was well-known that Darwin gave some credence to the now-discredited idea of 'telegony', but with one exception I think this is the only example of him discussing it in his correspondence.
May 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Came across what I think is a previously unknown Darwin letter while browsing in The Live Stock Journal. It was well-known that Darwin gave some credence to the now-discredited idea of 'telegony', but with one exception I think this is the only example of him discussing it in his correspondence.
Stumbled across this item about 'The Advertiser's Letter Bureau', which in 1909 was offering for sale by the 1000, letters sent to (in the case of Liquozone -quack) medicine adverts. Evidence that the traffic in 'suckers lists' goes back a little farther than you might have thought.
April 19, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Stumbled across this item about 'The Advertiser's Letter Bureau', which in 1909 was offering for sale by the 1000, letters sent to (in the case of Liquozone -quack) medicine adverts. Evidence that the traffic in 'suckers lists' goes back a little farther than you might have thought.
Delight at my Curran Fellowship somewhat tempered today, as I discover that James Payn's handwriting was so bad, even amongst a crowded contemporary field (A.P. Stanley anyone?), that in 1891 Pearson's Weekly made a readers' competition out of the difficulty of deciphering it.
March 14, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Delight at my Curran Fellowship somewhat tempered today, as I discover that James Payn's handwriting was so bad, even amongst a crowded contemporary field (A.P. Stanley anyone?), that in 1891 Pearson's Weekly made a readers' competition out of the difficulty of deciphering it.
Relative numbers of novels in the catalogue of Mudie's Circulating Library for 1903; a reminder of just how many titles late Victorian and Edwardian popular novelists - male as well as female - could rack up. Several were producing 5 or 6 a year. Productivity in authorship isn't what it used to be.
March 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Relative numbers of novels in the catalogue of Mudie's Circulating Library for 1903; a reminder of just how many titles late Victorian and Edwardian popular novelists - male as well as female - could rack up. Several were producing 5 or 6 a year. Productivity in authorship isn't what it used to be.
Whatever happened to 'the motor-boat honeymoon'?
February 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Whatever happened to 'the motor-boat honeymoon'?
'Most selling' US and UK authors as judged by an American newspaper syndicate in 1902. Interesting to see Kipling ahead of Stevenson, Haggard and Conan Doyle. W Clark Russell, a purveyor of naval yarns for boys also apparently 'out of his league'. Hardy flying the flag for the canonical novelists.
February 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
'Most selling' US and UK authors as judged by an American newspaper syndicate in 1902. Interesting to see Kipling ahead of Stevenson, Haggard and Conan Doyle. W Clark Russell, a purveyor of naval yarns for boys also apparently 'out of his league'. Hardy flying the flag for the canonical novelists.
Just recieved proofs of my contribution to Koenraad Claes and Lizzie Ludlow's interesting collection The Nineteenth-Century Present manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526172365/ Excited to see it typeset. But also rather ashamed of some execrably written sentences: a bit of polishing much needed!
February 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Just recieved proofs of my contribution to Koenraad Claes and Lizzie Ludlow's interesting collection The Nineteenth-Century Present manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526172365/ Excited to see it typeset. But also rather ashamed of some execrably written sentences: a bit of polishing much needed!
Probably related to his Jack Sheppard, which does still have currency, both as a book read, and (the two no doubt connected) a book warned about as fraught with dangerous potential. Here Rev Henry Batchelor to the Weston-super-Mare YMCA in 1897.
February 3, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Probably related to his Jack Sheppard, which does still have currency, both as a book read, and (the two no doubt connected) a book warned about as fraught with dangerous potential. Here Rev Henry Batchelor to the Weston-super-Mare YMCA in 1897.
More insights into boys' reading in the 1890s, Haggard, Stevenson, conan Doyle to the fore. Interesting to see Mrs Henry Wood so far up the lists. From school school library issues discussed by Andrew Lang in Longman's magazine.
January 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
More insights into boys' reading in the 1890s, Haggard, Stevenson, conan Doyle to the fore. Interesting to see Mrs Henry Wood so far up the lists. From school school library issues discussed by Andrew Lang in Longman's magazine.
For those of you who missed the announcement before Christmas, just to let you know of the publication of Darwinism's Generations. Available from OUP, and for those with a subscription via Oxford Academic online. It has implications across Victorian history and culture. academic.oup.com/book/58805
January 6, 2025 at 9:06 AM
For those of you who missed the announcement before Christmas, just to let you know of the publication of Darwinism's Generations. Available from OUP, and for those with a subscription via Oxford Academic online. It has implications across Victorian history and culture. academic.oup.com/book/58805
Most popular authors for girls in the mid-1880s. More predictable than the boys' list, perhaps. The presence of Yonge, Mrs Henry Wood, Hesba Stretton, and A.L.O.E. (Charlotte Tucker), etc., perhaps speaks to the greater influence of Sunday school book prizes here.
December 3, 2024 at 2:50 PM
Most popular authors for girls in the mid-1880s. More predictable than the boys' list, perhaps. The presence of Yonge, Mrs Henry Wood, Hesba Stretton, and A.L.O.E. (Charlotte Tucker), etc., perhaps speaks to the greater influence of Sunday school book prizes here.
Table of most popular authors for 11-19 yr old boys in the mid 1880s. Interesting that even at this relatively late date it was the naval yarns and explorer adventures of Kingston and Marryat, rather than the more imperialistic tales of Henty etc, which are the closest challengers to Dickens/Scott.
December 3, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Table of most popular authors for 11-19 yr old boys in the mid 1880s. Interesting that even at this relatively late date it was the naval yarns and explorer adventures of Kingston and Marryat, rather than the more imperialistic tales of Henty etc, which are the closest challengers to Dickens/Scott.
He toured the country with this 30 foot, self-built, horse-drawn home on wheels or several months each year during the later 1880s. It was 30 feet long and had space for a china cabinet, a book case and even a small harmonium. He had a valet riding ahead on a bicycle to warn other road users.
December 2, 2024 at 7:57 AM
He toured the country with this 30 foot, self-built, horse-drawn home on wheels or several months each year during the later 1880s. It was 30 feet long and had space for a china cabinet, a book case and even a small harmonium. He had a valet riding ahead on a bicycle to warn other road users.
He toured the country with this 30 foot, self-built, horse-drawn home on wheels or several months each year during the later 1880s. It was 30 feet long and had space for a china cabinet, a book case and even a small harmonium. He had a valet riding ahead on a bicycle to warn other road users.
December 1, 2024 at 7:57 AM
He toured the country with this 30 foot, self-built, horse-drawn home on wheels or several months each year during the later 1880s. It was 30 feet long and had space for a china cabinet, a book case and even a small harmonium. He had a valet riding ahead on a bicycle to warn other road users.
Ah! Look what the postie has brought. I'm going to enjoy this. @sarahhark.bsky.social
November 21, 2024 at 9:58 AM
Ah! Look what the postie has brought. I'm going to enjoy this. @sarahhark.bsky.social
Sorry, I know this is upper level shallow. But I've waited 30 years as a published author to see one of my books in an actual bookshop and today was the day! Thanks Leeds Waterstones. (In distinguished company, too!)
November 14, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Sorry, I know this is upper level shallow. But I've waited 30 years as a published author to see one of my books in an actual bookshop and today was the day! Thanks Leeds Waterstones. (In distinguished company, too!)
Now that it's all official, I'm thrilled and quite humbled to announce that I'll be President-elect of BAVS for the next 12 months, before taking over from Patricia Pulham in BAVS's 25th anniversary year in 2025. It's an honour, but also a great opportunity to advocate for Victorian Studies.
November 13, 2024 at 4:53 PM
Now that it's all official, I'm thrilled and quite humbled to announce that I'll be President-elect of BAVS for the next 12 months, before taking over from Patricia Pulham in BAVS's 25th anniversary year in 2025. It's an honour, but also a great opportunity to advocate for Victorian Studies.
So much going on in this 1894 insider view: 'The government of university colleges by municipalities is leading to strange results. They do not care a brass farthing for scholarship and research. They want their men to be local "Fireworks" ... [and give] popular lectures to please the townsmen'.
November 13, 2024 at 11:07 AM
So much going on in this 1894 insider view: 'The government of university colleges by municipalities is leading to strange results. They do not care a brass farthing for scholarship and research. They want their men to be local "Fireworks" ... [and give] popular lectures to please the townsmen'.
So I was expecting copies of Darwinism's Generations to arrive this week, but they came early. So we had to have a celebration! It's been a long time in the making, but we can now say for sure that it's properly published. If you have an insitutional subscription, it's available on Oxford Academic.
November 11, 2024 at 7:22 AM
So I was expecting copies of Darwinism's Generations to arrive this week, but they came early. So we had to have a celebration! It's been a long time in the making, but we can now say for sure that it's properly published. If you have an insitutional subscription, it's available on Oxford Academic.
Was in the OUP building yesterday looking up some stuff in the OED archive, and what should I come across sitting on the desk of one of the librarians. I think that counts as 'hot off the Press'.
November 6, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Was in the OUP building yesterday looking up some stuff in the OED archive, and what should I come across sitting on the desk of one of the librarians. I think that counts as 'hot off the Press'.
I'm told Darwinism's Generations is at the printers, and author's copies might be sent out within the next fortnight, which is pretty exciting. So here is a promo code giving 30% off, for anyone interested in buying or recommending a purchase.
October 22, 2024 at 11:04 AM
I'm told Darwinism's Generations is at the printers, and author's copies might be sent out within the next fortnight, which is pretty exciting. So here is a promo code giving 30% off, for anyone interested in buying or recommending a purchase.
How often does this happen? Took part in a fascinating discussion of the challenges of interpreting press 'leading articles' with Leslie Howsam and RSVP last week. And today stumble across a detailed inside account by Thomas Wemyss Reid of how the collective 'we' of the leaders was constructed.
October 15, 2024 at 1:07 PM
How often does this happen? Took part in a fascinating discussion of the challenges of interpreting press 'leading articles' with Leslie Howsam and RSVP last week. And today stumble across a detailed inside account by Thomas Wemyss Reid of how the collective 'we' of the leaders was constructed.