Classic to Modern English Literature

“ Culture and Anarchy ” by Matthew Arnold . One of the most glorious essays, “ Culture and Anarchy: An Essay in Political and Social Criticism is a series of periodical essays ” by English essayist, Matthew Arnold . It was first published by Cornhill Magazine 1867–68, and collected as a book in 1869 . In this course, Arnold’s famous piece of writing on culture established his High Victorian cultural agenda which remained dominant in debate from the 1860s until 1950s . It shows, “ Harmony, refinement, critique, education, unity, reflection, evolution and dissonance .” He describes as the prevailing mood of England’s new democracy.   Arnold was an inspector of a primary school, who had brought him into contact with European thought, and he based much of his criticism of British society . His book attempts to explain the social turmoil of 19 th -century Britain during the Industrial Revolution by redefining what is  “ culture ”. Arnold’s anthropological definition of cultu