About the Book
Duke University Press is again proud to publish a new volume in the series of the Carlyle letters. Four occurrences pervade this new collection of letters: the decline and death of Thomas Carlyle's mother, Thomas's continued research of Frederick the Great, the Carlyles's struggle against the perpetual irritation of urban noise, particularly roosters, which led to the construction of a sound-proof room, and the introduction to Carlyles of Talbotypes, an early form of photography. While domestic concerns pervade the volume, it also provides the usual insight to societal and political culture of the 1850s through the couples' interaction with influential people, including Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Delia Bacon.
Table of Contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CHRONOLOGY): January. Thomas Carlyle calls on Dr. Samuel Brown, nuisance of next-door neighbor's cock begins, Jane passes on money to the now ill and destitute William Maccall, Anthony Sterling is making Talbotypes. February. Thomas continues research for Frederick the Great biography, Mazzini is involved in unsuccessful uprising in Milan, Thomas visits Maccall to offer help. March. Thomas is elected to the Athenaeum Club, Thomas joins Charles Dickens in supporting Maccall's successful application to the Royal Literary Fund, Thomas goes to visit the Ashburtons on holiday, Jane remains home with a bad cold. April. Thomas sends Talbotypes of himself and Jane to his brother Alexander and to Janet Hanning, both in Canada, Thomas is reading Vehse's German history, Morgan the carpent returns to Chelsea to install bookcases, Thomas and Jane visit Bath House three times in a week. February. Thomas and Jane attend a ball at Lady Stanley's, prolonged roadwork begins as a major sewer from Kensington is constructed, Edward Chapman and Bosworth propose publishing Thomas's work in a series for railway travelers, Thomas's mother remains in bad health, Thomas prepares The Nigger Question for publication, the interruption of the neighbors cocks is continued, Jane attends Maccall's lectures. June. Thomas indexes his papers and notes on Frederick the Great, Delia Bacon is introduced to Thomas, Thomas and Jane to to Addiscombe and Hayes with the Ashburtons, The Nigger Question is published. July. Jane leaves with Nero (their frequently ransomed dog) for Liverpool to visit her family, the workmen finish on the shelves, painting and papering at Chelsea, Thomas's mother's health declines, Thomas begins plans for a sound-proof room to sheild him from the crows of the neighbor's cocks, Jane is troubled by a toothache and too much morphine. August. Jane returns to Liverpool and visits a dentist, Thomas reads Delia Bacon's paper on Bacon and Shakespeare and urges Milnes to visit her, work begins on the sound-proof study, John Childs dies. September. The floor to the sound-proof study is finished, Thomas and Jane leave Chelsea to stay at Addiscombe during construction, Jane returns home occasionally to supervise builders and hire a new servant after one of theirs runs off with an Irish builder. October. Thomas writes to Vehse with queries regarding Frederick, visits Forester, meets with Clough, and acknowledges the gift of a portrait of Hume from Landor, builders are completing the sound-proof study, Jane receives news of her uncle John Welsh's death, neighbors cocks aggravate Thomas. November. Thomas's mother weakens considerably, Thomas finds his American bonds, thought worthless, may be of value, his name is put forward by Prince Albert for a pension, Jane describes the sound-proof room as "the noisest in the house," Thomas urges J. W. Parker to decide if he will publish Delia Bacon's article, which is eventually rejected, Thomas's brother John writes to say that their mother is dying. December. Thomas writes his last letter to his mother, the Carlyles leave their home while painters occupy the house, Thomas tries to work but is distracted by thoughts of his mother, Jane returns home to arrange for the removal of the cocks, Thomas visits his mother before her death, Jane disposes of the cocks under penalty of law, Thomas's mother dies.
About the Author :
Kenneth J. Fielding is Emeritus George Saintsbury Professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. Ian Campbell is Professor of Scottish Literature and Aileen Christianson is Senior Lecturer in Scottish Literature, also at the University of Edinburgh.
David R. Sorensen is Associate Professor of English at St. Joseph’s University.
Review :
From reviews of previous volumes:“Neurotic, complaining, self-absorbed and repetitive both Carlyles may be in their letters, but they are a pair entirely sui generis, both in their way endowed with genius, and no better observers existed of Victorian London life, from that of the richest aristocrats to that of the poorest foreign refugees.”—Rosemary Ashton, Times Literary Supplement
