Illustrations of Political Economy (Fiction Collection)

ChuckW · Post by **ChuckW** » January 22nd, 2021, 7:54 am

Illustrations of Political Economy was a multi-book series of short stories and novellas that sought to dramatize and make accessible then-contemporary economic theories. Here's a quick summary:

Published in 1832, Illustrations of Political Economy established Harriet Martineau as both a successful and controversial author and a pioneer of nineteenth-century “social problem” writing. This widely read series of didactic stories popularized political economy, making it accessible to audiences by vividly dramatizing issues such as overpopulation and labour strikes. Illustrations of Political Economy marks a pivotal moment in which literature and politics came together, laying the foundation for the realism and social commentary of later Victorian novels.