Household Words

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Household Words was a weekly magazine edited by the eminent Victorian author Charles Dickens from 1850 to 1859. The publication featured a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, including short stories, novels in serial form, social commentary, and investigative journalism. Dickens's aim with Household Words was to address the various issues of the time, including social reform, with an entertaining yet thought-provoking style. The magazine is notable for its role in Victorian literature and its influence on social reform during the period.

History

Household Words was launched on March 30, 1850, with Dickens at the helm as editor. The magazine's title comes from Shakespeare's play Henry V, where the phrase "familiar in his mouth as household words" is used. Dickens's vision was to create a publication that was accessible to the general public, offering both entertainment and education. The magazine was published by Bradbury and Evans, who had previously published Dickens's novel David Copperfield.

Throughout its run, Household Words published works by some of the era's most prominent writers alongside Dickens himself, including Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins, and Thomas Hardy. The magazine was a platform for serialized novels, a popular format at the time, which included Dickens's own Hard Times.

Content and Themes

The content of Household Words was diverse, covering topics such as science, history, and travel, in addition to fiction and poetry. However, it is particularly remembered for its commitment to social reform. Articles on public health, education, child labor, and the plight of the poor were frequent. Through Household Words, Dickens was able to advocate for social change, using the magazine as a vehicle to reach a broad audience with his messages of reform.

Closure and Legacy

In 1859, due to a dispute with his publishers, Dickens ceased publication of Household Words and launched a new magazine, All the Year Round. Many of the writers and themes from Household Words continued in the new publication, which also enjoyed success.

Household Words is remembered today for its contribution to Victorian literature and culture. It provided a platform for significant social commentary and reformist ideas, as well as for the serialized novels that have become classics of English literature. The magazine's influence extended beyond its own time, contributing to changes in social policy and the development of the serial novel form.

See Also

• Victorian literature
• Serial (literature)
• Social reform in the United Kingdom