Between Quote by George Saintsbury
“Between Scott on the earlier side and Dickens and Thackeray on the other, there was an immense production of novels, illustrated by not a few names which should rank high in the second class, while some would promote more than one of them to the first.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Literary History of England, 1820‑1860, George Saintsbury, 1904
The passage notes a prolific Victorian novel era, with many works of varying quality, some rising from secondary to primary status.
In simple terms: Victorian novels were abundant, with some moving up in reputation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and explore overlooked works.
Themes
literature
history
class
quality
reputation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
historical
When to use this quote
- reading classics
- literary research
- teaching Victorian literature
Key Concepts
Victorian era
novel production
critical assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- Which lesser‑known Victorian novel should be revisited?
- How does class distinction affect literary value?
A Different Perspective
Not all popular works are of high literary merit; taste is subjective.
