Existing comment:
Imperial Influence:
The term "Victorian -- first used in London in 1851 -- derived from Britian's Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne in 1836. Her reign was characterized by a strict moral code that rested on women's piety and purity. In New York, Victorianism saw middle-class men and woman -- eager to emulate European values and aspire to respectability -- adopt genteel modes of speech, dress, and lifestyle that became defining features of the New York bourgeoisie. |