Harriet Martineau, Victorian Imperialism, and the Civilizing Mission

Harriet Martineau's writings on the evolution of the British Empire in the nineteenth century reflect Victorian concerns about radically shifting social ideologies. Analyzing key texts such as History of the Peace; Letters from Ireland; and History of British Rule in India, Deborah A. Logan makes a strong case for Martineau's significance as a shrewd observer and recorder of imperial enterprise who deserves to take her place alongside the most important commentators of the age.