英国文学导读 (31).pdf

The Victorian Period Historical Background • Queen Victoria – Victoria became Queen at the age of 18 in 1837 when her uncle, King William IV, passed away. – She ruled Britain for more than 63 years. – Politically speaking, the period is sometimes considered to begin with the passage of the Reform Act in 1832. 1. Early Stage: A Period of colonial expansion – Britain fought 2 Opium Wars with Qing Dynasty; – It ruled Indian through East India Company and then directly by the Crown. – British rul