Women Musicians in Victorian Fiction (1860–1900): A Critical Review of Phyllis Weliver’s Interdisciplinary Analysis

Authors : Rana Begüm Altun

Pages : 356-361

Doi:10.26468/trakyasobed.202594

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Publication Date : 2025-12-26

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :This article provides a critical review of Phyllis Weliver’s Women Musicians in Victorian Fiction, 1860–1900. The book examines the cultural role of female musicians in Victorian literature and shows how music functions as a narrative instrument to reflect and shape social perceptions of gender, class, and femininity. Drawing on an interdisciplinary framework combining musicology, feminist criticism, and literary studies, Weliver analyzes fictional representations of women’s musical performance and their broader societal implications. The review emphasizes the author’s perceptive treatment of themes such as mesmerism, emotional susceptibility, and the dichotomous portrayal of women as angelic or demonic figures. It also notes the study’s limitations, particularly its focus on middle- and upper-class women and the relative inattention to working-class musical practices. The review affirms the book’s value as a significant contribution to Victorian studies and feminist musicology while identifying avenues for further research on gender, artistic expression, and cultural politics.
Keywords : Viktorya dönemi edebiyatı, toplumsal cinsiyet çalışmaları, feminist müzikoloji, kadın müzisyenler, anlatı analizi, kültürel temsil

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