Professor Dominic Rainsford from the Department of English at Aarhus University, Denmark, and Editor-in-Chief of Dickens Quarterly, visited the School of Foreign Languages and hosted a series of academic activities on the theme of “Victorian Literature and Culture.” Organized and chaired by Professor Chen Houliang from the Institute of Foreign Languages and Literature, the series of activities were attended by dozens of doctoral and master’s students.
On the evening of October 15th, Professor Rainsford delivered a lecture entitled “Charles Dickens: Best and Worst.” He explored the dual roles of Dickens as a great figure in English literature. On one hand, Dickens is regarded as the most eminent writer after Shakespeare, bringing joy to millions of readers worldwide. On the other, he has faced moral criticism. Focusing on Dickens’s David Copperfield, Professor Rainsford analyzed these accusations, revealing the implied expectations within Western academia regarding artists: Should great artists be morally superior to ordinary people? Should they hold responsibilities for social issues?
On the evening of October 16th, Professor Rainsford presented his second academic lecture, “Dickens, Victorian Studies, and China.” By examining references to China in the works of Dickens and other Victorian writers, the lecture explored the implicit cultural exchange and communication between China and Britain embedded within these texts, highlighting its crucial role in understanding historical Sino-British relations. Professor Rainsford also shared his research on Dickens’s relationship with early 19th-century writers, such as Walter Scott.
The academic workshop on the morning of October 17th centered on “Victorian Literature and Culture.” Professor Chen Houliang analyzed issues of class reflected through temperance narratives and drinking culture in Dickens’s Barnaby Rudge. Doctoral student Cui Yuanyuan examined George Eliot’s use of sensation fiction elements in Middlemarch. Professor Rainsford provided insightful and detailed commentary on both presentations.
The workshop on the morning of October 18th focused on “Victorian Literature and China.” Dr. Ning Yiyang’s presentation used opium as an entry point to critically reflect on the cultural image of Fu Manchu in Victorian literary works. Professor Rainsford highly commended the academic innovation of this research and offered detailed suggestions for its further development.
These two workshops addressed cultural dimensions of 19th-century Victorian literature, including Sino-British cultural exchange and conflict, presenting novel perspectives and well-articulated arguments. Professor Rainsford fully affirmed the research value of the three reports while also providing numerous constructive suggestions.
Guest Profile: Dominic Rainsford is Professor of English at Aarhus University, Denmark. He holds a PhD in English Literature from University College London (UCL). He is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Dickens Quarterly (journal of the International Dickens Society) and President of the Danish Association for English Studies. He serves on the editorial boards of international journals including English Studies, European Journal of English Studies, Nordic Journal of English Studies, and Textus. He enjoys a high international reputation in the fields of Dickens studies, 19th-century British literature research, periodical publishing, and scholarly editing.
