1859: Friend of the Family to Idylls of the King

Chronology of World, British and American Literature

Dostoevsky. Russian. 1859. Novel. The Friend of the Family. Russian Tartuffe. Petty, talentless ex-toady rules the household by playing on guilt feelings.

George Sand. British. 1859. Novel. Elle et lui (He and She). Sand’s interpretation of her love affair with Alfred de Musset and its complexities.

Charles Darwin. British. 1859. Nonfiction. Origin of Species. Theory of evolution by natural selection and survival of the fittest.

Aleksey Pisemsky. Russian. 1859. Play. A Hard Lot. Tragic conflicts caused by the love affair between the estate owner and the wife of one of his serfs. Realistic.

Alfred Lord Tennyson. British. 1859/85. Poetry. Idlylls of the King. Based on the Arthurian legend. Introduction of evil into hitherto unblemished Camelot through Lancelot’s sin.