BBC Proms - 2009 - Proms Plus - The Victorian Novel

Proms Literary Festival As part of the festival's Victorian season, Matthew Sweet is joined by Roy Hattersley and Valentine Cunningham as they champion the Victorian novel in all its forms. From the elegance of Jane Austen and the thrilling sensation novels of Wilkie Collins to the stately realism of George Eliot and the bleakness of Thomas Hardy, the Victorian novel is a treasure trove of literary riches. Roy and Valentine argue that these should still be seen as pinnacles of English literature and their mix of character, social upheaval, storytelling, melodrama, malign fate and high style demonstrate a commitment to portray the whole of life that is as relevant today as it has ever been.