Melting Into Air: A History of the Victorian Empire

Atlantic slavery was one of history’s most appalling crimes. Over four centuries, approximately 12.5 million captives were trafficked from Africa across the “Middle Passage” to the Western Hemisphere. As I survey Britain’s culpability in the slave trade and explore why Parliament declared that trade illegal in 1807, I contend that slavery’s extraordinary violence underlines the ordinary cruelty of finance capital. Because this cruelty persists even today, every worthy history of slavery must double as a call to action.For additional resources, please visit our website.--SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS ♡Biaggi BarberCindy ReinkenElaine TrevorrowJenny BowmanJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerte--CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod--SOCIAL: Instagram | Letterboxd | LinkedIn | FacebookLISTEN: Apple | Spotify | YouTubeCONTACT: [email protected] US ON PATREON!$2/month: Shoutout in the show notes.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."If you would like to make a one-time donation, you can do so on our Ko-fi. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Since 1847, Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights has captivated readers with its searing story of destructive love, obsessive hatred, and devotion that transcends the grave. Set amid the lonely moors of northern England, the novel follows the sadistic Heathcliff and the untamable Catherine, whose passion for each other spirals into violence that consumes two families. Many Victorians found the story shocking. Hollywood has found it endlessly appealing. Wuthering Heights has been adapted for the screen dozens of times over the past 100 years. But what gets lost when translating a nineteenth-century novel to the screen? Why has pop culture often misremembered Brontë’s narrative? And how exactly does that narrative continue to inform young people’s expectations of romantic love?Dr. Kristin Rose teaches at Vanderbilt University, where she is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies and affiliated faculty for the Climate and Environmental Studies Program. Her 2023 dissertation, Women on the Wastes: Reimagining “Empty” Environments in the Victorian Female Bildungsroman, explores how some of the Victorian era’s most prolific women writers used the imaginatively charged landscape of the “waste” or “wasteland” to reimagine narratives of development beyond expropriative notions of British “progress.” In addition to nineteenth-century studies, her teaching and research interests include ecofeminism, climate fiction, and queer literature. Her articles have recently appeared in The Keats-Shelley Journal and NOVEL: A Forum on Fiction.For a free, extended bonus cut of this interview, please visit our Patreon. If you'd like to make a one-time tip, you can do so on our Ko-fi.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Shoutout in the show notes.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS ♡Biaggi BarberCindy ReinkenElaine TrevorrowJenny BowmanJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerteSOCIALInstagram / Letterboxd / LinkedIn / FacebookLISTENApple / Spotify / [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Melting Into Air’s producer, Marcie LaCerte, sits down with the host, Brian Reinken, to answer listeners’ questions about Season 1. Tune in for a lively discussion about Catholicism, typhoid, book recommendations, sound design, and what’s coming in Season 2.For access to the full-length episode, please subscribe our Patreon. If you'd like to make a one-time tip, you can do so on our Ko-fi.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Shoutout in the show notes.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS ♡Biaggi BarberCindy ReinkenElaine TrevorrowJenny BowmanJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerteSOCIALInstagram / Letterboxd / LinkedIn / FacebookLISTENApple / Spotify / [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Across Western Europe, the early nineteenth century witnessed a renaissance in art appreciation. Wealthy tourists flocked to Italy to admire gorgeous paintings and indulge in sultry love affairs. Meanwhile, new public museums like the Louvre and the National Gallery inspired ordinary citizens at home in France and Britain. Unfortunately, this period’s romantic promise of “high culture” had a dark side. The sight of Rome’s crumbling ruins prompted uneasy dreams about decline and fall, and violence haunted new museums whose collections were the products of imperial looting. So what’s the history behind museums? Why do visitors find ruins and broken objects so attractive? And is it truly possible for institutions of high culture to atone for past misdeeds?Jonah Siegel is Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University. He is currently working on a book about how the destruction of art objects in popular culture relates to contemporary concepts of progress. He is also publishing Season of Beauty, a Substack about slowly walking through the painting galleries in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.For a free, extended bonus cut of this interview, please visit our Patreon. For additional images, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS ♡Biaggi BarberCindy ReinkenJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerteSOCIALInstagram / Letterboxd / LinkedIn / FacebookLISTENApple / Spotify / [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Ira Aldridge was one of the most celebrated stage actors of the early Victorian period. Born into a Black family in the United States, he rose to international superstardom after taking his career to London, where he played leading roles in everything from Shakespearean tragedies to lurid imperial melodramas. As a performer, Aldridge dramatized important topics like Atlantic slavery, and he crossed the color line by playing characters like Richard III and King Lear. Audiences simply couldn’t get enough. So who was Ira Aldridge? How did he rise to stardom despite racial prejudice? And what does his extraordinary life reveal about race, politics, and popular culture in the nineteenth century?Professor Greg Vargo teaches at New York University. He has authored a book titled An Underground History of Early Victorian Literature and edited two collections of plays, Chartist Drama and Ira Aldridge on the Stage: An Anthology. The latter appeared this year from Edinburgh University Press. It features plays starring the first Black celebrity of the British stage, Ira Aldridge.For additional images, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSBiaggi BarberCindy ReinkenJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerteSOCIALInstagram / Letterboxd / LinkedInLISTENApple / Spotify / [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Nineteenth-century Britain was the historical birthplace of “childhood” as the Western world understands that term today. This episode showcases a diverse range of Victorian childhoods by introducing seven characters from the richest to the poorest strata of British society. As we experience the early nineteenth century through their eyes, we’ll bear their sorrows, and we’ll share their joys.For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Access to Q&A episodes and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteRhyming Children voiced by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSBiaggi BarberJordan LaCerteRasmusYves LaCerteLINKSLetterboxd / Apple / Spotify / [email protected] & MUSICComing soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

The “Hungry Forties” rank among the bleakest periods in British history. Depression, protest, blood, and fire defined the years from 1837 to 1848, when the country’s average life expectancy dropped lower than it had been since the time of the Black Death. As lawmakers blocked institutional channels to reform, grassroots movements such as Chartism became the only way for ordinary people to express their grievances. Britain tore itself into “two nations”: the rich and the poor.For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTiny Tim voiced by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSBiaggi BarberRachel HalseyJordan LaCerteYves LaCerteLINKSLetterboxd / Apple / Spotify / [email protected] soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Enclosure and industrialization, which both began in England, laid the groundwork for a new kind of global capitalism. Because these economic processes impacted absolutely every aspect of Victorian life, they’re as fundamental to the study of the nineteenth century as chemistry or physics are to the interpretation of the natural world. In this episode, we’ll approach broad, complex economic concepts from a humanist perspective that prioritizes ordinary people’s lived experiences.For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteElizabeth Bentley voiced by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSRachel HalseyJordan LaCerteYves LaCerteLINKSLetterboxd / Apple / Spotify / [email protected], Frederic. Trois Nouvelles Études, no. 2.Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 35 in C minor, Op. 56 No. 3.Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4.Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 3.Gymnopedie No. 3 (Erik Satie) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 License.Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 13 in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4.Haydn, Joseph. String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5 in D major 'The Lark' - I. Allegro moderato.Chopin, Frederic. Nocturne No. 21 in C minor, B. 108.Bach, J. S. Goldberg Variations, BWV988.Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 4.Mendelssohn, Felix. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61 Scherzo.Mendelssohn, Felix. Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 'Italian' - I. Allegro vivace.Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 6.Gaveaux, Pierre. Polacca from the opera Le Trompeur Trompé. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.Beethoven, Ludwig von. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' - I. Allegro con brio.Chopin, Frederic. Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1.SOUND EFFECTSMill MIX.wav by ccundell -- freesound.org/s/702460/ -- Licensed under NonCommercial 4.0natural water puddle summer 2.06 pm 220618_0409 by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/693746/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0CHURCH BELLS.m4a by CousinAwd -- freesound.org/s/528827/ -- Attribution 4.0small stream ambient 1213PM 240129_0645 by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/721088/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0Forest in Scotland May 1999.wav by inchadney -- freesound.org/s/336696/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Cambridge_pub_beergarden_rowdy_short_atmos.wav by alexkandrell -- freesound.org/s/294425/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0Door Knock 1 by blou27 -- freesound.org/s/841281/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0crate_break_2.wav by dxeyes -- freesound.org/s/432670/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0Queen Street Mill, line shafts and belts running.wav by phonoflora -- freesound.org/s/201175/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0Canadian Horse Carriage.wav by vero.marengere -- freesound.org/s/450325/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Distant Steam Train Whistle No Background Noise by WeenyBeany -- freesound.org/s/800935/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.000947 building railway hard work arrangement.wav by Robinhood76 -- freesound.org/s/69009/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Steam whistle 090518.wav by LG -- freesound.org/s/72805/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0boat Arvor 215 engine propellers low rpm splashes stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- freesound.org/s/425514/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

The imaginary border between “high” and “low” culture became more heavily guarded at precisely the moment when it grew much easier to cross. In this episode, we’ll explore how mass entertainment and elite institutions intersected with each other in surprising ways throughout the 1830s and 40s. From execution grounds to ivory towers, culture wars became a proxy for class struggle, but they also gave rise to alliances between unlikely partners.For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 LicenseSPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSJordan LaCerteYves LaCerteLINKSLetterboxd / Apple / Spotify / [email protected]. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.Batty McFaddin. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.Oroitz Maiz - Praeludium XIV. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.Chromatic Fuge (BBWV 930). Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.Danse Macabre. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.Gnossienne 3. Erik Satie. Performed by La Pianista.Supernatural Radio A. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.Look Busy. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.Fun in a Bottle. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.Villainous Treachery. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky. Conducted by Charles Munch.A Midsummer Night's Dream Op. 61. Mendelssohn.String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5 in D major 'The Lark' - I. Allegro moderato. Haydn.Gnossienne 6. Erik Satie. Performed by La Pianista.Goldberg Variations, BWV988 - 12. Variation 11. Bach, J S. Performed by Shelley Katz.Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4. Chopin. Performed by Edward Neeman.Aquarium. Saint-Saens. Performed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.Organ Sonata No. 6 in D minor, Op. 65. Felix Mendelssohn. Matthias Privler. 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Victorian London was the vibrant capital of Britain’s global empire. Despite its wealth and power, many Londoners eked out precarious lives defined by the ever-present possibility of bankruptcy, illness, or death. In this episode, we take a walking tour of the nineteenth-century world’s most populous city to examine how its poorest inhabitants survived, and even thrived, despite innumerable hardships.For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website.SUPPORT US ON PATREON!$2/month: Donation tier.$5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker.$10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire."CREDITSWritten and narrated by Brian ReinkenProduced and edited by Marcie LaCerteArtwork by Marcie LaCerteTheme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 LicenseSPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONSJordan LaCerteYves LaCerteLINKSLetterboxd / Apple / Spotify / [email protected] soonSOUND EFFECTSComing soon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com