English History in Text and Image, 1830-1870

'This volume makes a significant addition to the national identity scholarship... The breadth of evidence makes the book mandatory reading for any scholar interested in the intellectual process of how the writing of history has shaped the national identity issue. Anyone interested in the broader dimensions of history and national identity in the process of political evolution in other European countries should read this book as well... Mitchell's careful account of how the English national narrative took a specific form between 1830 and 1870 has implications beyond that particular period and country. The arguments she presents deserve consideration well beyond the confines of English history.' -Journal of Modern History
'Picturing the Past should be commended for combining intellectual history and history of the book to illuminate a vibrant age in British cultural politics.' -SHARP News
'Beautifully evokes the many pleasures and mysteries of reading about the past, for the Victorians and ourselves.' -SHARP News
'This book is a fine example of deconstructionist scholarship - and proof that it need not be obscured behind a veil of jargon. Recommended.' -CHOICE
'A rich mine of information... Mitchell traces the various forms of text and image relationships in her chosen period, in a variety of publications, from textbooks to historical novels. It is this holistic approach that gives the book its special interest... The chapters that deal with Women's History and later historical novels are full of useful insights.' -English Historical ReviewHow did Victorians view their national past? Through case-studies of nineteenth-century history books, history textbooks, and historical novels, this monograph aims to explore the middle-class experience of English history. It highlights how history - once a popular pastime became the preserve of the professional, and it shows how text and image, popular and scholarly publications, multi-volumed histories and historical novels, all contributed to a varied picture of the national past.