2020/06/18 by Allen Riddell, Troy J. Bassett · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Australian History and Society
paper · doi:10.7202/1070272ar
openalex publication_date 2020/06/18 · openalex created_date 2020/08/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/10
Following the work of Raymond Williams, this article examines the 81 fiction authors published in 1838. First, we examined the social origins of the authors as judged by their fathers’ occupations. Whereas the majority of adults living in the British Isles during this period were working class, the majority of the Class of 1838 originated in the upper classes. Second, we traced their careers by finding their ages at first published novel, their total novels, and the span of their careers. Though no significant differences were found between the careers of men and women authors, there was a general lack of persistence to write a second novel. And last, we inspected the title pages of the 87 published works of fiction in 1838 to investigate the ways in which authors presented themselves to readers. Contrary to expectations, men authors were more likely than women authors to conceal their identities.