54 pages 1 hour read

Matthew Arnold

Culture and Anarchy: An Essay in Political and Social Criticism

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1869

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Further Reading & Resources

Further Reading: Beyond Literature

Matthew Arnold: British Critic (1822-1888)” by Dr. Basil Willey (1998)

In this biographical article for Encyclopedia Britannica, Victorian specialist Basil Willey provides an accessible and helpful overview of Arnold’s life and work, offering insights into some of the defining characteristics of Arnold’s writings as both poet and critic.

Project Gutenberg offers various free eBook formats for the anthology Selections from the Prose Works of Matthew Arnold, which features some of Arnold’s literary and political essays, including “The Function of Criticism at the Present Time” (1864) and “The Study of Poetry” (1880), which may complement a reader’s study of Culture and Anarchy.

An Introduction to Victorian England (1837-1901)” by English Heritage (2022)

The official website of the UK’s English Heritage foundation offers an introductory overview of the Victorian Era. Readers wishing to know more about Arnold’s historical context can explore topics such as “Religion,” “Daily Life,” and “Power and Politics.”

Religion in Victorian Britain” by The Victorian Web (2022)

This webpage contains a wealth of links to articles on various aspects of religion in Victorian England, written by established experts in the field.