St. John and the Victorians
Book Description
This scholarly exploration reveals how the Gospel of John profoundly shaped Victorian Britain's cultural and spiritual landscape during the nineteenth century. Michael Wheeler examines the remarkable influence of John's Gospel, widely considered the most spiritually significant account of Jesus' life and divine nature, on the era's greatest artists, writers, and thinkers.
Through careful interdisciplinary research, Wheeler demonstrates how biblical scholarship of the period sparked extraordinary creative responses across literature, visual arts, and music. The study traces the Gospel's impact on towering figures like John Ruskin, Holman Hunt, and Alfred Tennyson, showing how John's unique episodes and famous prologue inspired their most meaningful works.
Rather than treating religion and culture as separate spheres, this work illuminates their deep interconnection in Victorian society. Wheeler's analysis moves beyond the Evangelist and Gospel text itself to explore how specific passages and stories found new life through artistic interpretation and personal reflection.
For contemporary readers seeking to understand how sacred texts continue to inspire creative expression and spiritual insight, this book offers valuable perspective on the enduring power of biblical narrative. Wheeler's research uncovers the profound ways that ancient wisdom traditions can permeate and transform entire cultures, providing a compelling case study in the ongoing dialogue between faith, scholarship, and artistic vision.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 269 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore LITERARY CRITICISM
- ✓ Explore Bibeln
- ✓ Explore Historia
- ✓ Explore Kultur- och samhällsliv
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Influenser
- ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
- ✓ Explore Literatur. (DE-588)215795-0 gnd
