Thesis title:
The Realm of Bohemia: Masculinity, the Press, and Clubland in late Victorian London and Manchester 1860-1914
My PhD investigates masculinity and the subcultures of bohemianism in the urban spaces of Victorian and Edwardian London and Manchester. I am closely examining the bohemian as a figure in popular British culture, and the ways in which this set of ideas was incorporated into performed masculinity in the urban space. I focus in particular on the cultures of bohemian gentlemen’s clubs. In order to do this, I am conducting a qualitative close textual analysis of the use of language, narrative, and iconography in the discourse of contemporary literature and the local and periodical press. I am also looking at the records of bohemian clubs, including memoirs, library records, and club histories.
Research Area
