Several writers who are frequently studied under ‘Edwardian’, ‘Georgian’ or even ‘Modern’ literature began their writing careers in the late Victorian period. Most novelists from this period retained the realist mode, though the adventure/fantasy and mystery formats also came into their own during the 1880s. Social satire continued to be a popular genre.

PROSE

Non-fiction

Of the prose writers towards the later decades of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, Samuel Butler figures prominently. Butler was much influenced by the writings and theories of Charles Darwin, though he eventually turned towards Lamarck and away from Darwin. He wrote tracts on biological theories and a considerable body of journalism on these subjects: Evolution, Old and New (1879) and Unconscious Memory (1880), among others. Erewhon, or Over the Range (1872) is Butler's most famous prose piece. This work resembles Gulliver's Travels. Mr Higgs goes over the mountains in New Zealand (Butler was living in New Zealand at the time) and comes upon a country of savages. This becomes the excuse for Butler to satirize all aspects of this ‘undiscovered’ culture – religion, social hierarchies and art. Butler was unwilling to let go of the Christian doctrine, despite Darwinism, and much of his early work (The Fair Haven, 1873) and sections of Erewhon are a defence of faith.