The John Forster Collection at the V&A

Centre for Modern Studies postgraduate forum Short Talk

Victoria White will be speaking about the John Forster Collection at the V&A, one of the largest and most significant bequests made to the museum. Comprising of over 18,000 printed books, manuscripts, paintings and objects, the collection provides an unrivalled glimpse into the literary entreprenuership of John Forster (1812-1876), and to the heart of the changes that took place in the Victorian literary marketplace. A major figure in nineteenth century literary culture, Forster's network of friendships with Dickens and Browning, his influential editorship of The Examiner, and his role as literary advisor to the publishers Chapman and Hall made him one of the most influential writers, biographers and collectors of the nineteenth century, changing decisively the possibilities and ethos of the modern literary profession.

Victoria will consider how such literary entrepreneurship negotiates and speaks through the wealth of material within the collection.

The talk will be 20-30 mins long, after which there will be questions and a discussion over wine and cheese. There will also be vegan and gluten free options.