Essential reading for students, scholars, lovers and haters of nineteenth-century Britain, this book breathes new life into the genre of Victorian modern life painting. Fletchers masterful analyses of works by leading painters of the mid-Victorian period, combined with her deep understanding of Victorian exhibition culture, make for a truly fascinating read.
Keren Rosa Hammerschlag, Australian National University
In pursuing the question What does modern life feel like? Pamela Fletchers enthralling book invites readers into the rich relationships that existed between Victorian artists, their paintings, and their publics. This study radically shifts what we think we know about nineteenth-century British art.
Aviva Briefel, Bowdoin College
