It is estimated that between 1837 and 1901 some 60,000 novels were published in Britain. This Companion introduces readers to the historical contexts in which this vast range of fiction was produced and to the critical debates that have raged about it ever since.The Companion comprises twenty-six original, accessible chapters, written by renowned and emerging scholars in the field of Victorian studies. The first section provides overviews of key historical contexts, such as religion, class, gender, and the publishing world. The second part surveys the various genres and subgenres of the Victorian novel. The third deals with Victorian, modern, and postmodern theories of the novel and looks at how Victorian novels and novelists were received, both now and then. A detailed and convenient index enables cross-referencing and study of a broad spectrum of authors, novels, themes, and controversies, while informed bibliographies following each chapter contain many helpful recommendations for further reading.