Eminent Victorians · Question
How does Eminent Victorians develop the theme of Imperialism and Adventure?
Answer
Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey develops Imperialism and Adventure across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
General Gordon's career in China and Khartoum illustrates the complexities and contradictions of British imperialism, blending religious zeal, military ambition, and a sense of civilizing mission with personal eccentricity and eventual tragedy.
Gordon is portrayed as a 'fighter, an enthusiast, a bold adventurer' whose character is at odds with the inglorious retreat he is sent to conduct. The chapter critiques the imperial mindset that values heroic action over strategic withdrawal.
The bibliography centers on General Gordon, a figure emblematic of British imperial adventure and military campaigns in Africa and Asia.
Evidence in the book
- The End of General Gordon
Gordon is portrayed as a 'fighter, an enthusiast, a bold adventurer' whose character is at odds with the inglorious retreat he is sent to conduct. The chapter critiques the imperial mindset that values heroic action over strategic withdrawal.
- Bibliography
The bibliography centers on General Gordon, a figure emblematic of British imperial adventure and military campaigns in Africa and Asia.
