Britain has been exhorted to return to Victorian values. The 19th century is seen as an age of stability and achievement, a byword for hard work, morality and thrift. But what did the Victorians themselves value? If society is to look to their example then surely it must distinguish reality from myth. This book explores the complexities of Victorian thinking about topics of central importance at the time and their relevance today: economic forces, attitudes to poverty, imperialism, education, the role of women, revivalism, popular religion, crime and work. The leading figures of the day are not neglected, from Darwin and Mill to Gilbert and Sullivan. From the conclusions drawn by the contributors, the reader can judge just how beneficial in our day a return to Victorian values would really be. The book will be of interest to the general reader, the student of Victorian society, and those who seek to understand the legacy that it has bequeathed us.