These essays focus on major figures, major works or major themes and movements of the Victorian era. Each aims to fill the gap in critical literature while reflecting the book"s recurring concern with contexts and strategems of presentation. They strive for fresh perspectives, whether it be a fuller grounding for Browning"s poetry, a reconciliation of the contrary views Emerson and Nietzsche held on Carlyle"s narrative techniques, a clear awareness of the role of comedy in Arnold"s prose, a new chapter on English literary realism or a look at Trollope as a crucial addition to his era"s exhaustive studies of changing and highly symbolic parent-child relationships. John Clubbe is co-author of "English Romanticism: The Grounds of Belief" and Jerome Meckier is author of "Aldous Huxley: Satire and Structure".