Imagining Inclusive Society in Nineteenth-Century Novels

The book explores the transformation of British public consciousness between the Reform Acts of 1832 and 1867, focusing on the shift from social hierarchy to a vision of modern mass culture. It examines how political leadership adapted to popular legitimacy and the emergence of a "code of sincerity" in mass politics, which often masked ideological manipulation. Through intertextual analysis of six significant novels, the author highlights how traditional elites responded by reinforcing social distinctions, intertwining cultural and scientific perspectives on sensibility and visuality.