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Charles Dickens publishes Oliver Twist in periodical form
Feb. 1837-Apr. 1838 The story is about an orphan, Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker.He escapes and getting involved with some criminal people. The book has 53 chapers. -
Victoria becomes queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Her reign of 63 years and seven months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history, is known as the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. -
Alfred, Lord Tennyson becomes a poet laureate
Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets.His first publication was a collection of "his boyish rhymes and those of his elder brother Charles" entitled Poems by Two Brothers published in 1827. -
Japan opens trade to the West
On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy, commanding a squadron of two steamers and two sailing vessels, sailed into Tôkyô harbor aboard the frigate Susquehanna. Perry, on behalf of the U.S. government, forced Japan to enter into trade with the United States and demanded a treaty permitting trade and the opening of Japanese ports to U.S. merchant ships. The Japanese had no navy with which to defend themselves, and thus they had to agree to the demands. -
The U.S. Civil War begins
Fought between the United States (the "Union" or the "North") and several Southern slave states that had declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America (the "Confederacy" or the "South"). The war had its origin in the fractious issue of slavery, and, after four years of bloody combat (mostly in the South), the Confederacy was defeated, slavery was abolished, and the difficult Reconstruction process of restoring unity and guaranteeing rights to the freed s -
In France, Victor Hugo publishes Les Miserables
Les Miserables is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Examining the nature of law and grace, the novel elaborates upon the history of France, the architecture and urban design of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, antimonarchism, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. -
Lewis Carroll publishes Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world (Wonderland) populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children.It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre, -
Mohandas K. Gandhi is born in India
commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.[ -
L. Frank Baum publishes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, The story chronicles the adventures of a young girl named Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz, after being swept away from her Kansas farm home in a cyclone. -
Queen Victoria Dies
Her death on January 22, 1901 at age 81 was mourned around the world and signaled an end to the Victorian Era. For months, Queen Victoria's health had been failing. She had lost her appetite and started looking frail and thin. She would tire more easily and would often have bouts of confusion.
