A history of British comic and satiric periodicals in the long nineteenth century

"This book provides a comprehensive, highly detailed critical history of British comic and satiric periodicals for the entire nineteenth century. It supplies extensive bibliographical information, surveys the pertinent historical and theoretical studies, and synthesizes the critical literature dealing with specific periodicals and publishing practices. It presents the most extensive account of later Victorian serials, and represents the first historical overview of Welsh, Scottish, Irish, and English regional comic and satiric periodicals. The book begins with an account of the generic and historical characteristics of nineteenth-century British serial publications, and of the shifting understanding of comedy and satire during this period. A history divided into six sections-1790 to 1830, the 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s to 1900-follows, which documents the political, cultural, and literary contexts for understanding the fortunes of specific periodicals; the professional careers of the writers, artists, editors, and publishers who produced them; the emergence, development, and disappearance of certain comic and satiric forms and practices; the century-long legal challenges; and the impact of technological developments on publication and distribution. Over twelve-hundred periodicals are identified, grouped, and evaluated thematically, politically, and technologically. The book offers insights into 19th century British popular culture-its leisure pastimes, fashions, sport, entertainment, upper and lower class society, scandal, and crime-as well as its attitudes regarding class, ethnicity, and gender. Most of all, it shows what images and words amused or enraged the British public"--