Everyday Heroism: Victorian Constructions of the Heroic Civilian

Heroism in the 19th and early 20th centuries is synonymous with military endeavours, imperial adventures and the ‘great men of history. There was, however, another prominent and influential strand of the idea which has, until now, been largely overlooked. This book seeks to address this oversight and establish new avenues of study by revealing and examining ‘everyday heroism; acts of life-risking bravery, undertaken by otherwise ordinary individuals, largely in the course of their daily lives and within quotidian surroundings.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, John Price charts and investigates the growth and development of this important discourse, presenting in-depth case studies of The Albert Medal and the Carnegie Hero Fund alongside a nationwide analysis of heroism monuments and an exploration of radical approaches to the concept. Unlike its military and imperial counterparts, everyday heroism embraced the heroine and this study reflects that with an examination of female heroism.

Discovering why certain individuals or acts were accorded the status of being ‘heroic also provides insights into those that recognized them. Heroism is a flexible and malleable constellation of ideas, shaped or constructed along different lines by different people, so if you want to identify the characteristics of a group or society, much can be learnt by studying those it holds up as heroic. Consequently, Everyday Heroism: Victorian Constructions of the Heroic Civilian provides valuable and revealing evidence for a wide range of social and cultural topics including; class, gender, identity, memory, celebrity, and literary and visual culture.

Analyses the development of the concept of everyday heroism in Victorian Britain, exploring several case studies featuring acts of bravery by civilians.

In April 1885, Alice Ayres, a young domestic servant, lost her life in tragic circumstances while heroically attempting to save three children from a house fire in Southwark. In the months following her death, Ayres became, for a short time, a celebrated household name as her brave and selfless actions were recognised and commemorated by press and public alike. The actions of Alice Ayres represent a prime example of everyday heroism, an idea which originated in the mid-Victorian period and which focused upon acts of civilian bravery undertaken by otherwise ordinary people in the course of their daily life. Everyday Heroism charts and analyses the growth and development of this significant and influential idea. In doing so, it reveals that the performance of heroism stretched well beyond military and imperial realms, extending also into the remarkable lives and tragic events of even the most commonplace communities.

John Price is Visiting Lecturer in Modern History at Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK, Visiting Lecturer in Modern History at King's College London, UK and Research Assistant at Roehampton University, UK.

Introduction: 'Capable of Splendid Deeds': Heroism and the Heroic in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
1. 'Gallantry in Saving Life': The Albert Medal
2. 'Heroism in Every-day Life': Alternative Approaches to Everyday Heroism
3. 'Erected by Public Subscription': Monuments to Everyday Heroism
4. 'Heroes for Hire': The Carnegie Hero Fund Trust
5. 'Courage for a man is heroism for a girl': The Gendered Nature of Heroism
Conclusion
Appendix One
Appendix Two
Notes
Bibliography
Index