From Publishers Weekly
"I find it impossible to imagine anything more repugnant than the real genuine Englishman," averred the celebrated German composer Richard Wagner upon his first visit to London in 1855. Yet, as Christiansen (Prima Donna; Romantic Affinities) ably demonstrates, English culture in the Victorian era was transformed and infinitely enriched by the presence of foreigners on British soil. Consisting primarily of narrative accounts of the visits made to England between 1820 and 1914 by a series of notable outsiders from the French painter G‚ricault to Ralph Waldo Emerson to a team of Aboriginal Australian cricketeers to ballet dancers from the Continent and the States this is a lively tale of the ongoing culture clash between visitors and visited; sometimes it is gentle or even imperceptible, other times profound or unsettling. Drawing on a wealth of primary materials letters, diaries and the like Christiansen here offers a fascinating approach to cultural history: by filtering the mores, manners and customs of the British through the perceptions of astute outsiders, he is able to construct a more complex and multifaceted portrait of Victorian society than conventional histories allow. But what's really of interest here is the underlying premise that the Victorians and their visitors merely represent a single instance of a continual process whereby all cultures are enlivened and enlightened by the intrusion of foreigners into their milieu. In a sense, of course, that's obvious, of course, but Christiansen's deft depictions of the sometimes wholly unexpected ways in which these visitors influenced all manner of English customs, values and beliefs make his thesis both credible and insightful. Illus. not seen by PW. Agent,: Emma Parry, Carlisle and Co. (May)Forecast: Charming though this is, its primary audience probably lies on the other side of the pond, where Christiansen is opera critic for the Daily Telegraph and a regular contributor on the arts to other publications.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
This well-written, selectively episodic examination of the experiences of notable outsiders visiting England and particularly London in the mid-19th century is often engaging but lacks a clear unifying thesis. These sojourners include both individuals (for instance, America's first real philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the great German composer Richard Wagner) and groups (Australian aboriginal cricketers). Christiansen appears to be most secure with artistic rather than intellectual subjects; the Emerson piece is dreadfully dull and will not inspire readers to look any further into the works or lives of either Emerson or his reluctant host, Thomas Carlyle. In contrast, chapters on Wagner and on the many, disparate foreign dancers who molded a modern dance movement in Britain are fascinating. Christiansen is a nonacademic but respected historian of European popular culture (Tales of the New Babylon, 1994), but he made his real mark with Prima Donna (1985), and his comfort with musical subjects shows here. Alas, there is no analysis to justify the "culture shock" advertised in the subtitle. Recommended only for collections that cast widely for Victoriana or the history of formal culture. Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr Coll. Lib., PA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
One way to analyze a culture is to pay attention to the reactions of the outsider. In any effort to fully understand and delineate a unique society, the observations of perceptive visitors are invaluable. Christiansen provides an array of anecdotal stories featuring the experiences and adventures of a diverse crew of tourists who visited England between 1815 and 1915. Although primarily drawn to London by the lure of financial gain, each of these foreigners was in some way influenced by British culture and each, in turn, left his or her own indelible mark on Victorian society. The distinguished wayfarers profiled include German composer Richard Wagner, French artist Theodore Gericault, American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, a team of Australian cricketers, and a company of Italian ballerinas. This delightful and insightful cultural history will appeal to Victorian enthusiasts. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Like present-day New York, early-nineteenth-century London was an extraordinarily vibrant and creative metropolis to which visitors -- from scholars to social climbers -- went in search of wealth and fame. Called "an elegant and erudite introduction to nineteenth-century studies" (The Times), The Victorian Visitors lucidly captures the encounters between London and some of its most famous visitors who left an indelible mark on its culture. Among others, Christiansen reveals the great French artist Gericault painting the climax of a public execution and the finish of the Epsom Derby, Richard Wagner guffawing at anti-Semitic jokes in the restaurant of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Ralph Waldo Emerson driving Thomas Carlyle to distraction with his "moonshine" philosophy. A fascinating illustrated look at the cultural and social mores of nineteenth-century London, Christiansen's "delightful and insightful cultural history" (Booklist) challenges our stereotypes of Victorian England with vividly readable and often hilarious accounts of how British culture welcomed these remarkable foreigners. "This eloquent ... book does much to rescue Victorian Britain from its traditional image as a place of stolid public rectitude." -- Ben MacIntyre, The New York Times Book Review "A nimbly written, satisfyingly detailed survey, suggesting new directions in considering the Victorian era." -- Kirkus Reviews "Offers a magic lantern of shifting perspectives of the glittering city ... [A] marvelous book." -- Cristina Monet, Los Angeles Times

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the nineteenth century, London was a city of big money, large audiences, and creative dynamism. In The Victorian Visitors, Rupert Christiansen lucidly captures the city to which visitors went in search of the artistic fervor, fame, and wealth that only London could offer. The great French painter Theodore Gericault escaped to London after a disappointing reception in Paris to show his painting, Raft of the "Medusa." The high pitch and hustle of London life influenced the fecundity and variety of several of his paintings, including Derby d'Epsom. Composer Richard Wagner went for the first time in search of money, but was disappointed to find the audiences indiscriminating, the musicians poorly trained, and the weather depressing. Writing to his friend Liszt in a frenzy of despair, he said, "I live here like a damned soul in hell." Then there was the demon Australian bowler, Frederick Spofforth, who changed the course of English cricket.

The fascinating stories of the visitors also include Ralph Waldo Emerson who drove Thomas Carlyle to distraction with his "moonshine" philosophy, the American Daniel Home's inexplicable psychic powers and his disastrous involvement with an elderly Cockney widow, and the pirouetting Italian ballerinas who captivated the young George Bernard Shaw and roused music-hall audiences to a collective erotic frenzy.

In readable and often hilarious detail, The Victorian Visitors relates the tragicomic stories of a succession of remarkable foreigners who traveled to Britain in the nineteenth century and left influential marks on many aspects of its culture.

FROM THE CRITICS

Ben Macintyre - New York Times Book Review

. . . a fascinating portrait of a tolerant and optimistic society . . . This eloquent and witty book does much to rescue Victorian Britain from its traditional image as a place of stolid public rectitude coupled with private vice.

Publishers Weekly

"I find it impossible to imagine anything more repugnant than the real genuine Englishman," averred the celebrated German composer Richard Wagner upon his first visit to London in 1855. Yet, as Christiansen (Prima Donna; Romantic Affinities) ably demonstrates, English culture in the Victorian era was transformed and infinitely enriched by the presence of foreigners on British soil. Consisting primarily of narrative accounts of the visits made to England between 1820 and 1914 by a series of notable outsiders from the French painter G ricault to Ralph Waldo Emerson to a team of Aboriginal Australian cricketeers to ballet dancers from the Continent and the States this is a lively tale of the ongoing culture clash between visitors and visited; sometimes it is gentle or even imperceptible, other times profound or unsettling. Drawing on a wealth of primary materials letters, diaries and the like Christiansen here offers a fascinating approach to cultural history: by filtering the mores, manners and customs of the British through the perceptions of astute outsiders, he is able to construct a more complex and multifaceted portrait of Victorian society than conventional histories allow. But what's really of interest here is the underlying premise that the Victorians and their visitors merely represent a single instance of a continual process whereby all cultures are enlivened and enlightened by the intrusion of foreigners into their milieu. In a sense, of course, that's obvious, of course, but Christiansen's deft depictions of the sometimes wholly unexpected ways in which these visitors influenced all manner of English customs, values and beliefs make his thesis both credible and insightful. Illus. not seen by PW. Agent,: Emma Parry, Carlisle and Co. (May) Forecast: Charming though this is, its primary audience probably lies on the other side of the pond, where Christiansen is opera critic for the Daily Telegraph and a regular contributor on the arts to other publications. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

This well-written, selectively episodic examination of the experiences of notable outsiders visiting England and particularly London in the mid-19th century is often engaging but lacks a clear unifying thesis. These sojourners include both individuals (for instance, America's first real philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the great German composer Richard Wagner) and groups (Australian aboriginal cricketers). Christiansen appears to be most secure with artistic rather than intellectual subjects; the Emerson piece is dreadfully dull and will not inspire readers to look any further into the works or lives of either Emerson or his reluctant host, Thomas Carlyle. In contrast, chapters on Wagner and on the many, disparate foreign dancers who molded a modern dance movement in Britain are fascinating. Christiansen is a nonacademic but respected historian of European popular culture (Tales of the New Babylon, 1994), but he made his real mark with Prima Donna (1985), and his comfort with musical subjects shows here. Alas, there is no analysis to justify the "culture shock" advertised in the subtitle. Recommended only for collections that cast widely for Victoriana or the history of formal culture. Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr Coll. Lib., PA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews