British Culture - User contributions [en]

Urbanisation

2010-10-31T09:34:58Z

Vhen: /* Counter-movement */

The early beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Britain (between 1760 and 1780) influenced the development of cities in the strongest way. Urbanisation totally changed the image of cities and countryside.

== Population ==

There was always a debate on the question if the British population grew or decreased. When John Rickman organised the first official census in 1801, he found an answer to that question. The population of the UK grew explicitly. Further research showed that the population increased from eight million people in 1794 about ten million people in 1812 to 13 million people in 1830.

Industrialisation resulted in enormous shifts of where people lived. Most people used to live in the South and East of England. However, the population moved towards North and West now.

London had more than one million inhabitants at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the biggest city of Europe. What is more, England became the counrty with most people living in cities. Other big cities were Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham or Leeds which had more than 50000 inhabitants. Their development was caused by the Industrialisation, too.

There is more to Urbanisation than just the growth of cities. The agglomeration of high populated areas, where cities were established close by each other, is one very important characteristic of Urbanisation. One third of the English population had lived in urbanised areas at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1851, already half of the population moved there.

In addition to that he further growing population was in need of more and more food. This is why the food production had to grow, which resulted in the intensification of agriculture. The number of imports rose as well.

== Problems ==

The cities were not prepared for such fast movements of the population from the countryside to the city. A lot of problems resulted from urbanisation. For example, the water supply was short, there were difficulties with sewage, the air was polluted, street cleaning involved a lot of problems. Moreover, loads of social problems arose like the many people squeezed in a small place, poverty or problems with hygiene.

People lived at the margin of subsistence. Often, their only chance to survive and to put through their families was to move to the cities. This made poverty of the masses a serious problem of the UK at that time.

== Counter-movement ==

There was a counter-movement to the growing industrial cities, which included the foundation of new small industrial villages. Those villages were built by owners of factories who provided a place to live for their employees, for example G. Cadbury's village Bournville in Birmingham, which was built in 1879.

----

'''Sources'''

Heineberg, Heinz.'' Stadtgeographie.'' Paderborn: Schöningh, 2006, 217 - 219; 226.

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands.'' Ditzingen: Reclam, 2007, 326 - 330.

Urbanisation

2010-10-30T14:24:53Z

Vhen: Created page with 'The early beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Britain (between 1760 and 1780) influenced the development of cities in the strongest way. Urbanisation totally changed the i…'

The early beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Britain (between 1760 and 1780) influenced the development of cities in the strongest way. Urbanisation totally changed the image of cities and countryside.

== Population ==

There was always a debate on the question if the British population grew or decreased. When John Rickman organised the first official census in 1801, he found an answer to that question. The population of the UK grew explicitly. Further research showed that the population increased from eight million people in 1794 about ten million people in 1812 to 13 million people in 1830.

Industrialisation resulted in enormous shifts of where people lived. Most people used to live in the South and East of England. However, the population moved towards North and West now.

London had more than one million inhabitants at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the biggest city of Europe. What is more, England became the counrty with most people living in cities. Other big cities were Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham or Leeds which had more than 50000 inhabitants. Their development was caused by the Industrialisation, too.

There is more to Urbanisation than just the growth of cities. The agglomeration of high populated areas, where cities were established close by each other, is one very important characteristic of Urbanisation. One third of the English population had lived in urbanised areas at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1851, already half of the population moved there.

In addition to that he further growing population was in need of more and more food. This is why the food production had to grow, which resulted in the intensification of agriculture. The number of imports rose as well.

== Problems ==

The cities were not prepared for such fast movements of the population from the countryside to the city. A lot of problems resulted from urbanisation. For example, the water supply was short, there were difficulties with sewage, the air was polluted, street cleaning involved a lot of problems. Moreover, loads of social problems arose like the many people squeezed in a small place, poverty or problems with hygiene.

People lived at the margin of subsistence. Often, their only chance to survive and to put through their families was to move to the cities. This made poverty of the masses a serious problem of the UK at that time.

== Counter-movement ==

There was a counter-movement to the growing industrial cities, which included the foundation of new small industrial villages. Those villages were built by owners of factories provided a place to live for their employees, for example G. Cadbury's village Bournville in Birmingham, which was built in 1879.

----

'''Sources'''

Heineberg, Heinz.'' Stadtgeographie.'' Paderborn: Schöningh, 2006, 217 - 219; 226.

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands.'' Ditzingen: Reclam, 2007, 326 - 330.

Charles Dickens

2010-10-29T08:22:36Z

Vhen: /* His Life, Works and Travelling */

1812-1870. British author famous for his novels.

== Childhood ==

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, on 7 February 1812. He was the second of eight children. The whole family had spent five years living in Chatham, where Dickens had gone to the local school, until they returned to London. There, Dickens attended Wellington House Academy. His father worked as a government clerk for the Navy Pay Office. He was imprisoned for debt. During this time Dickens had to work in a blacking warehouse labelling bottles. He was only 12 years old. He taught himself shorthand, which made Dickens a good choice for a reporter of parliamentary debates for the ''Morning Chronicle''.

== His Life, Works and Travelling ==

In 1836, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of the editor of the ''Evening Chronicle''. He made John Forster's acquaintance in the same year. Forster became his literary adviser and future biographer.

Dickens began to publish sketches in different periodicals. In 1836–7, he started publishing the ''Pickwick Papers''. Dickens used cheap serial publishing for all of his novels, which made him so successful. Further publications during the next years were for example ''Oliver Twist'' (1837), ''Nicolas Nickleby'' (1838–9), ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1840–1) and ''Barnaby Rudge'' (1841).

Then, Dickens set off to America. He was enthused about the audience he expected, but as there was not any favourable reception, Dickens got back home disillusioned. He wrote down his experiences in ''American Notes'' (1842).

His ''Christmas Books'' achieved huge popularity. Especially the first one, ''A Christmas Carol'' (1842). Dickens is very much associated with the festival of Christmas, and deeply inscribed in the popular culture of the English-speaking world.

Between 1844 and 1846 Dickens travelled abroad again.

Further publications were ''Dombey and Son'' (1846–8), ''David Copperfield'' (1849–50), ''Bleak House'' (1852–3) and ''Little Dorrit'' (1855–7). All of them deal with more serious themes and are more carefully planned. Furthermore, Dickens' social criticism becomes even more radical.

In 1847, Dickens returned to London. At this point of his life he did not only write, but also act on stage. Dickens started the weekly periodical ''Household Words'' in 1850, which was succeeded by ''All Year Round'' (1859). In those periodicals Dickens published novels like ''Hard Times'' (1854), ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (1859) and ''Great Expectations'' (1860–1) in serialised versions.

Throughout Dickens began to read his works in public. He had to stop with his public readings, when he became seriously ill during the 1860s. Dickens separated from his wife in 1859, because he found his new love Ellen Ternan. In 1860 he moved with his whole family to Glad's Hill, Rochester.

''Our Mutual Friend'', which was published between 1864 and 1865, retained some of his best comedy. His last novel ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' was never completed.

In 1867 Dickens travelled to America again to do public readings.

Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870, at the age of 58. He was buried in the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. People grieved for him a lot.

----

'''Sources'''

Perdue, David. Charles Dickens Page. 23 Oct. 2010 <http://charlesdickenspage.com/>.

Slater, Michael. "Introduction and Notes", in: Dickens, Charles. ''A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings''. London: Penguin Group, 2003. [pages vii - xv]

Charles Dickens

2010-10-29T08:21:55Z

Vhen: /* His Life, Works and Travelling */

1812-1870. British author famous for his novels.

== Childhood ==

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, on 7 February 1812. He was the second of eight children. The whole family had spent five years living in Chatham, where Dickens had gone to the local school, until they returned to London. There, Dickens attended Wellington House Academy. His father worked as a government clerk for the Navy Pay Office. He was imprisoned for debt. During this time Dickens had to work in a blacking warehouse labelling bottles. He was only 12 years old. He taught himself shorthand, which made Dickens a good choice for a reporter of parliamentary debates for the ''Morning Chronicle''.

== His Life, Works and Travelling ==

In 1836, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of the editor of the ''Evening Chronicle''. He made John Forster's acquaintance in the same year. Forster became his literary adviser and future biographer.

Dickens began to publish sketches in different periodicals. In 1836–7, he started publishing the ''Pickwick Papers''. Dickens used cheap serial publishing for all of his novels, which made him so successful. Further publications during the next years were for example ''Oliver Twist'' (1837), ''Nicolas Nickleby'' (1838–9), ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1840–1) and ''Barnaby Rudge'' (1841).

Then, Dickens set off to America. He was enthused about the audience he expected, but as there was not any favourable reception, Dickens got back home disillusioned. He wrote down his experiences in ''American Notes'' (1842).

His ''Christmas Books'' achieved huge popularity. Especially the first one, ''A Christmas Carol'' (1842). Dickens is very much associated with the festival of Christmas, and deeply inscribed in the popular culture of the English-speaking world.

Between 1844 and 1846 Dickens travelled abroad again.

Further publications were ''Dombey and Son'' (1846–8), ''David Copperfield'' (1849–50), ''Bleak House'' (1852–3) and ''Little Dorrit'' (1855–7). All of them deal with more serious themes and are more carefully planned. Furthermore, Dickens' social criticism becomes even more radical.

In 1847, Dickens returned to London. At this point of his life he did not only write, but also act on stage. Dickens started the weekly periodical ''Household Words'' in 1850, which was succeeded by ''All Year Round'' (1859). In those periodicals Dickens published novels like ''Hard Times'' (1854), ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (1859) and ''Great Expectations'' (1860–1) in serialised versions.

Throughout Dickens began to read his works in public. He had to stop with his public readings, when he became seriously ill during the 1860s. Dickens separated form his wife in 1859, because he found his new love Ellen Ternan. In 1860 he moved with his whole family to Glad's Hill, Rochester.

''Our Mutual Friend'', which was published between 1864 and 1865, retained some of his best comedy. His last novel ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' was never completed.

In 1867 Dickens travelled to America again to do public readings.

Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870, at the age of 58. He was buried in the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. People grieved for him a lot.

----

'''Sources'''

Perdue, David. Charles Dickens Page. 23 Oct. 2010 <http://charlesdickenspage.com/>.

Slater, Michael. "Introduction and Notes", in: Dickens, Charles. ''A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings''. London: Penguin Group, 2003. [pages vii - xv]

Charles Dickens

2010-10-23T12:39:35Z

Vhen: Created page with '== Charles Dickens == == His Childhood == Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, on 7 February 1812. He was the second of eight children. The whole family had spe…'

== Charles Dickens ==

== His Childhood ==

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, on 7 February 1812. He was the second of eight children. The whole family had spent five years living in Chatham, where Dickens had gone to the local school, until they returned to London again. There, Dickens attended Wellington House Academy. His father worked as a government clerk for the Navy Pay Office. He was imprisoned for debt. During this time Dickens had to work in a blacking warehouse labelling bottles. He was only 12 years old. He taught himself shorthand. What made Dickens a good choice for a reporter of parliamentary debates for the ''Morning Chronicle''.

== His Life, Works and Travelling ==

In 1836, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of the editor of the ''Evening Chronicle''. He made John Forster's acquaintance in the same year. Forster became his literary adviser and future biographer.

Dickens began to publish sketches in different periodicals. In 1836–7, he started publishing the ''Pickwick Papers''. Dickens used cheap serial publishing for all of his novels, which made him so successful. Further publications during the next years were for example ''Oliver Twist'' (1837), ''Nicolas Nickleby'' (1838–9), ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1840–1) and ''Barnaby Rudge'' (1841).

Then, Dickens set off to America. He was enthused about the audience he expected, but as there was not any favourable reception, Dickens got back home disillusioned. He wrote down his experiences in ''American Notes'' (1842).

His ''Christmas Books'' achieved huge popularity. Especially the first one, ''A Christmas Carol'' (1842). Dickens is very much associated with the festival of Christmas, and deeply inscribed in the popular culture of the English-speaking world.

Between 1844 and 1846 Dickens travelled abroad again.

Further publications were for example ''Dombey and Son'' (1846–8), ''David Copperfield'' (1849–50), ''Bleak House'' (1852–3) and ''Little Dorrit'' (1855–7). All of them deal with more serious themes and are more carefully planned. Furthermore, Dickens' social criticism becomes even more radical.

In 1847, Dickens returned to London. At this point of his life he did not only write, but also act on stage. Dickens started the weekly periodical ''Household Words'' in 1850, which was succeeded by ''All Year Round'' (1859). In those periodicals Dickens published pieces like ''Hard Times'' (1854), ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (1859) and ''Great Expectations'' (1860–1).

Throughout Dickens began to read his works in public. He had to stop with his public readings, when he became seriously ill during the 1860s. Dickens separated form his wife in 1859, because he found his new love Ellen Ternan. In 1860 he moved with his whole family to Glad's Hill, Rochester.

''Our Mutual Friend'', which was published between 1864 and 1865, retained some of his best comedy. His last novel ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' was never completed.

In 1867 Dickens travelled to America again to do public readings.

Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870, at the age of 58. He was buried in the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. People grieved for him a lot.

----

'''Sources'''

Perdue, David. Charles Dickens Page. 23 Oct. 2010 <http://charlesdickenspage.com/>.

Slater, Michael. "Introduction and Notes", in: Dickens, Charles. ''A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings''. London: Penguin Group, 2003.