The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, September 1879

In Short

This volume is a compilation of monthly issues from a major British intellectual journal, featuring deep dives into biology, art history, geopolitics, and theology. It functions as a "state of the world" address for the late nineteenth century, reflecting the era’s obsession with classification, historical progress, and the reconciliation of ancient tradition with modern science. Because these essays were written by experts for an educated general public, they have lasted as a vibrant, unfiltered record of how the Victorians grappled with the rapid expansion of human knowledge.

The Story

The volume opens with a broad survey of the globe, casting an eye toward the future of China and the volatile political climate of Russia. Throughout these months, the reader is guided through complex arguments regarding the "natural history" of living creatures, where the focus shifts from the classification of money and furniture to the biological taxonomy of reptiles and plants. The text moves with agility from the physical world to the metaphysical, exploring the "artistic dualism" of the Renaissance and the rigid, almost medieval social philosophy of Auguste Comte.

As the months progress, the narrative arc deepens into the tension between antiquity and modernity. The journal presents a rigorous challenge to the "ridiculous" notions surrounding the Great Pyramid, debunking the idea that it served as an ancient observatory for astronomers. Instead, it proposes a more technical, optical explanation for the structure's design. This scholarly scrutiny continues in the examination of Russian conspiracies and the autocratic instability of the Czar, which provides a stark, real-world contrast to the more abstract theological debates about the "first sin" and the origins of the Deluge across various ancient civilizations.

The argument reaches a pivotal point in the later months as it addresses the "moral limits of beneficial commerce" and the status of Ireland. The contributors do not shy away from the controversial; they analyze the "Nihilist" movement through the tragic story of Vjera Sassulitch, using her legal trial to illustrate the cruelties inherent in a collapsing autocracy. Simultaneously, the volume takes a lighter, though no less incisive, turn toward cultural criticism. It reviews contemporary novels and poetry, offering a rare, candid glimpse into the Victorian literary marketplace—where the arrival of translated foreign fiction was met with a mixture of excitement and deep-seated suspicion regarding the "skeleton in the cupboard of modern thought."

The journey concludes with a comprehensive look at the state of the Church, the utility of beauty in the natural world, and the fluctuating political landscapes of India and Constantinople. The final impressions are those of a society in flux, attempting to categorize, explain, and ultimately master its own history and environment. It is a portrait of a civilization that believed it could—and should—rationalize everything from the growth of ferns to the rise of empires.

How It Unfolds

The taxonomic impulse The volume begins by establishing a framework for understanding the world through rigorous classification. Writers apply the same logic used to categorize "metallic money" to the study of reptiles and flowerless plants, emphasizing that order is the prerequisite for all knowledge.

The conflict of ideals The perspective shifts to the Renaissance, where the text argues that the study of antiquity acted as a "momentary antagonist" to the naturalistic development of modern painting. By contrasting Italian masters with the "fat burghers" and realistic style of German engravers, the authors highlight the struggle between aesthetic tradition and observational truth.

The critique of systems The focus turns to philosophy and politics, specifically dissecting the social theories of Comte. The analysis critiques his desire to dismantle modern nation-states into tiny, medieval-style communes, labeling his vision as an unrealistic rejection of national identity.

The astronomical investigation A detailed technical assessment of the Great Pyramid follows, dismissing popular myths about the structure. Through geometric and optical reasoning, the text argues for a more pragmatic, engineering-based understanding of the pyramid's passages.

The struggle for liberty The journal engages with contemporary politics, particularly in Russia and Greece. It contrasts the stagnant, military-camp atmosphere of the Russian autocracy with the rapid, "geometrical" progress of a newly independent Greece.

The literary review The final beats involve a curated look at the books of the day. The editorial voice acts as a gatekeeper, warning readers about the influx of foreign fiction while praising works that offer a genuine, if "child-like," look at human nature.

The People

The contributors to this volume are largely anonymous or represent a collective of Victorian thinkers, but they bring specific figures to life through their critiques. Sir Walter H. Medhurst leads the inquiry into the future of global powers, while Professor St. George Mivart emerges as a central, methodical voice, seeking to impose biological order on a "prodigious" number of living creatures. Vernon Lee stands out as the keen-eyed observer of the Renaissance, forcing the reader to choose between the "colourless" statue of the past and the vibrant, light-filled paintings of the future. Vjera Sassulitch serves as the volume’s most poignant human figure—a schoolgirl turned political prisoner whose tragic path from innocence to radicalism illustrates the human cost of the Russian autocracy. Finally, Matthew Browne acts as the guiding spirit of the book reviews, a warm yet skeptical arbiter of taste who tries to discern which new novels are worth a reader’s limited time, often acting as a bridge between the reader and the shifting cultural trends of 1879.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding the difficulty of organizing the natural world, the author notes:

"The number of kinds of living creatures is so prodigious that it would be a hopeless task for any man to attempt to grasp the leading facts of their natural history, save with the help of a well-arranged system of classification."

On the fundamental tension in Renaissance art, the text observes:

"The study of the antique is thus placed opposite to the study of Nature, the comprehension of the works of antiquity is the momentary antagonist of the comprehension of Nature."

Regarding the harsh reality of political life in Russia, the editors write:

"It is a story typical of the base cruelty of autocratic government; typical also of the results such a system must needs produce."

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume is about the Victorian effort to reconcile the "Age of Iron"—a time of industrial growth and political upheaval—with the enduring weight of antiquity and theology. The central question is whether human reason, if applied systematically, can solve the "formidable problem" of society’s moral and material direction. It explores the tension between the desire for a unified, orderly world and the messy reality of individual freedom, political rebellion, and artistic innovation. The essays reflect a profound anxiety that while the methods of science are improving, the fundamental questions of human existence—why we fall, why we fight, and how we govern—remain as elusive and pressing as they were in the time of the ancients.

Why Read It Today

You should read this if you are interested in the "DNA" of the modern world. Reading these pages feels like stepping into a Victorian drawing room where the most brilliant minds of the day are debating over tea. You will appreciate it if you enjoy the cadence of nineteenth-century prose—precise, formal, and unflinchingly confident. However, be prepared for the period's limitations; the discussions on foreign cultures and colonial politics are steeped in the Eurocentric attitudes of the late 1800s, which may feel jarring or regressive to a modern reader.

The primary challenge of the book is its density. It is not a casual read, as it demands that you pivot quickly between the anatomy of a sea-serpent and the political philosophy of the Holy Alliance. Yet, what remains with you is the sheer intellectual curiosity of the writers. They were standing on the precipice of the twentieth century, trying to catalog everything they knew before the world changed forever. For the reader who loves to understand how history "thought" about itself, this volume provides an indispensable, honest, and remarkably clear look at a pivotal turning point in human intellectual life.