1845: lives and letters in “that prodigious year" Seminar

In this paper Michael describes the process of planning and developing his latest book project, a work in progress. Although problems associated with Ireland, poverty, religion and the railways recurred throughout 1845, they came to a head at different times, and this is reflected in the sequence of chapters in the book. Commentary on these crises took many forms, ranging from speeches in parliament and political pamphlets to tracts and sermons, novels and poems, paintings and cartoons, essays in periodicals, articles in newspapers, letters to newspaper editors, and private correspondence. Through a communication revolution enabled by the rapid growth of the railway network and the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post, the exchange of news and ideas quickened. 1845 considers the impact of this revolution on a wide range of influential individuals in their private and public lives.