The Victorian Age was culturally, intellectually and scientifically perhaps the most prolific period of history. It contained the seeds of modernity. It may be appropriate to say that what we find now in the 'modern age', is the outgrowth of the scientific spirit of enquiry and creed of rationalism of the Mid Victorian era. The bewildering scientific discoveries that brought about the Industrial Revolution, changed the thinking, outlook, attitude, temper and conscience of the Victorians. Naturally, different intellectuals, mostly of the sensitive type, reacted differently as a result of free and fearless thinking.
Scores of books have been written by scholars, all over the world on the Vic- torian Age, or the 'Victorian Doubt'. This era witnessed a revolution which was peaceful and not 'bloody'. Now-a- days, loss of faith is not shocking as it was during the Victorian era, particularly the 1860's. Now people can afford to live without it and without any prick of conscience. Was not Tennyson during his early phase bold enough to say:
'There lies more Faith in 'Honest doubt', Than in all the Creeds."
Similarly, Darwin's doctrine of the 'Sur- vival of the Fittest,' seems to have become now a sound and pragmatic philosophy. The present book attempts to prove that though loss of faith was not a good thing from the theological point of view, yet it provided artists a powerful stimulus to produce excellent forms of art. In short, it proved very productive in art and in all forms of literature including poetry, prose, particularly novels, and constitutes a golden age in the history of English literature.
Krishen Lal Kalla (Nirash) (1932) has had a brilliant academic career. He is also a gold medalist and recipient of many prizes during his student days.
He has been teaching English since 1956, at several institutions of higher learning in the State of J & K. Currently he is serving as Professor and Head of the Department of English, Amar Singh College, Srinagar, Kashmir.
He conducted research at the Post- Graduate Department, of English, Kashmir University, Srinagar and is a member of 'The Kashmir Council of Research', Srinagar.
Besides Literary Heritage of Kashmir (published by Mittal Publications), Mr. Kalla has more than six outstanding books to his credit.
His writings on English literature have won appreciation from eminent critics like Prof. Bonamy Dobree of Leeds University and Prof. David Daiches of Edinburgh University. He has contributed a number of articles on literary and cultural subjects to various journals.
The main aim of writing this book was not to earn fame, but to delve deep into the literary past, and explore the treasures hidden therein. The work on the book was begun about a decade ago and it was carried on through many vicissitudes of circumstances which I had to face both at home and outside, while the work was on. But I did not yield to their buffets. Of course the best wishes of kind parents, and other friends and well-wishers boosted up my spirits to keep up the struggle. Thus the book has been born.
I should, also, never forget to acknowledge the debt of gratitude to scholars and professors of various Universities- Dr. R. K. Kaw (Director, Sharda Peetha Research Centre, Srinagar); Dr. B. R. Mullik (Agra College, Agra); Dr. Brijadesh Prasad (Agra); Dr. Sisir K. Ghosh (Vishwa Bharati); Dr. Mulk Raj Anand (Bombay); Dr. T. S. Kallapur (Karnataka); Dr. Naresh Chander (Lucknow); Dr. Maharaj Singh (D.A.V. College, Bullandshahr, U.P.); Dr. Thakur Guru Prasad (Gorakhpur); Prof. R. R. Mehrotra (K.G.K. College, Morada- bad, U.P.); Dr. Prajapati Prashad (Jammu); Dr. M. S. Want (Kashmir); Dr. T. Jai Raman (Kashmir); and Prof. J. L. Koul, S. L. Pandita, S. L. Sadhu, Tirath Ram, Saif-ud-Din (Principal); Mr. Attar Chand (Writer and Journalist, Delhi) and late Mani Ram Sharma (Superintendent, Finance Department, J. & K.
I have read with deep interest the manuscript 'The Mid- Victorian Literature and Loss of Faith, a masterly study of a very important subject, by Shri Krishen Lal Kalla, Professor of English, A.S. College, Srinagar. He has dealt in a scholarly manner with several tendencies which brought about this loss of faith in old, accepted values, and their impact on important authors of those days.
Throughout the book, the author's approach has been original, and this I consider the significant characteristic of this work. Through taking into account the opinions of various critics on this subject, Shri Kalla has maintained his own point of view, which makes the study of this book refreshing and exhilerating. Moreover, one cannot but be impressed by the simplicity and effectiveness of the style of the author.
It gives me great pleasure to note that the book, which is the result of long and patient labour of Shri Kalla and of his mature critical judgement, has now become available in a printed form for the benefit of students and scholars of English Literature in India and abroad.
I offer my heartiest congratulations to Shri Kalla on this bold venture, and wish him the best of luck.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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