The Beginning Of The Modern World

[poliphilo]

Modernity began in 1890, give or take a year or two. Before 1890 no-one in a novel travelled further than Italy, after 1890 every other novel is set in India, California or the South Seas. Before 1890 heroines who defied their families died like the Magdalens they were, after 1890, they prosper and have careers. Gissing (or maybe it was Wells- I've been reading them back to back and can't now disentangle them) jokingly attributes the change to the invention of the bicycle- that enabler of personal mobility and causer of trousers in women.  

Comments

[sovay]

the invention of the bicycle- that enabler of personal mobility and causer of trousers in women. I think he may actually have a point.

"To ride a bicycle is in itself some protection against superstitious fears, since the bicycle is the product of pure reason applied to motion. Geometry at the service of man! Give me two spheres and a straight line and I will show you how far I can take them."
—Angela Carter, "The Lady of the House of Love"

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like that.

We take the bicycle too much for granted.

[oakmouse]

Before 1890 heroines who defied their families died like the Magdalens they were, after 1890, they prosper and have careers.

Have you read Edith Wharton's novels?

Gissing (or maybe it was Wells- I've been reading them back to back and can't now disentangle them) jokingly attributes the change to the invention of the bicycle- that enabler of personal mobility and causer of trousers in women. I think he may actually have a point.

I'd agree, but also point to the typewriter, which enabled an entire generation of women to get office jobs. The two things made their full impact felt at around the same time, very much in tune with your timeline.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Wharton. Maybe I'll look her up.

Good point about the typewriter. Wells' Ann Veronica finds her employment prospects in London severely limited by her inability to type.

[oakmouse]

House of Mirth is the one I particularly have in mind.

[airstrip.livejournal.com]

Trousers! On women! Surely you jest!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Shocking, isn't it!