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avrilhj's review
5.0
This is a fascinating monograph about the popular ‘Family’ Bibles sold in parts during the Victorian era. There were only a few authorised publishers of the Authorised Version of the Bible, but any publisher could publish a Bible with Commentary and they became popular consumer items.
Carpenter looks at the ways in which the Family Bibles constructed the Victorian family, and the use authors like Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot made of their familiarity with them. I did not know that ‘flowers’ were a biblical euphemism for menstruation and suddenly parts of ‘Villette’ read completely differently.
It’s also fascinating (and reassuring?) to read the chapter on British (Empire) readings of the Apocalypse. They assume that England is the endpoint of history, and that England’s Imperial mission was foretold in Revelation. And yet the world is still turning! Maybe the world will survive terrifying American evangelicals who believe the Apocalypse is on its way.
Carpenter looks at the ways in which the Family Bibles constructed the Victorian family, and the use authors like Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot made of their familiarity with them. I did not know that ‘flowers’ were a biblical euphemism for menstruation and suddenly parts of ‘Villette’ read completely differently.
It’s also fascinating (and reassuring?) to read the chapter on British (Empire) readings of the Apocalypse. They assume that England is the endpoint of history, and that England’s Imperial mission was foretold in Revelation. And yet the world is still turning! Maybe the world will survive terrifying American evangelicals who believe the Apocalypse is on its way.
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