This is the recording of a talk called Victorian Colonial Short Stories 2: Dominions & Colonies which was recorded on 7th January 2025.
Over two lectures an overview of colonial short stories published during the Victorian and Edwardian Era will be explored. These stories form part of a huge body of literature, including both fiction and non-fiction, which variously described, promoted or criticised Imperialism.
Many of the stories initially furnished a two-fold purpose. Those printed locally were important within the colonial community, as they offered a release from present difficulties, isolation and boredom, by providing comfort in fictional tales rooted in shared experiences that reflected their world back to them.
Publications in Britain offered the population back home a much-desired glimpse of the excitement and danger encountered within these exotic lands. When we read these works today, they offer us a deeper, more intimate and personal perspective of the lives lived within that system, than that recorded in the history books.
This lecture,by June Lawrence (who leads the Victorian Society’s short story reading group), will survey short stories of colonial voyagers, squatters and settlers in Africa, Australia, British Malaya, Canada and New Zealand. These stories cover exploration and exploitation. There is adventure, excitement, greed, hardship and danger. As with the stories we looked at before, these tales also enable the reader to immerse themselves directly in different situations and aspects of this episode of history to gain an insider’s view of the facts and figures recorded in history books.
For those who missed the first talk, the recording can be brought here.
After booking a ticket, you will be given access to the recording of the event. Please ignore the event date in the listings.
This event helps raise funds for The Victorian Society - the only charity dedicated to fighting for our Victorian and Edwardian heritage. Join us today and safeguard our unique cultural heritage for future generations! For further information, click here.
The Victorian Society is an IHBC recognised CPD provider.
Image: Handkerchief, Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0 creativecommons.org licenses via Wikimedia Commons.02.
