The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon

The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon

"The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon" was a series of highly controversial newspaper articles on child prostitution that appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette in July 1885. Written by crusading editor W.T. Stead, the series was a "tour de force" of Victorian journalism. With sensational crossheads, such as "The Violation of Virgins" and "Strapping Girls Down", the "Maiden Tribute" threw respectable Victorians into a state of moral panic, and achieved, as a consequence, the implementation of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, which raised the age of consent for girls from 13 to 16. Stead and several of his accomplices were later brought to trial as a result of the unlawful investigative methods they used (see the Eliza Armstrong Case) and Stead himself served three months in prison. Stead's reports were an early but potent example of a 'new journalism' which was not afraid of creating a 'news-event' rather than just plain reporting. According to Roland Pearsall "it was the death knell of responsible journalism" [Roland Pearsall (1969) "The Worm in the Bud: The World of Victorian Sexuality": 373]

Stead's account was widely translated and the revelation of "padded rooms for the purpose of stifling the cries of the tortured victims of lust and brutality" and the symbolic figure of "The Minotaur of London" confirmed European observers worst imaginings about "Le Sadisme anglais" and inspired erotic writers to write of similar scenes set in London or involving sadistic English gentlemen. Such writers include D'Annunzio in "Il Piacere", Paul-Jean Toulet in "Monsieur de Paur" (1898), Octave Mirbeau in "Jardin des Supplices" (1899) and Jean Lorrain in "Monsieur de Phocas" (1901). [Mario Praz (1970) "The Romantic Agony". Oxford University Press: 443-451]

References

External links

*" [http://www.attackingthedevil.co.uk/pmg/tribute/index.php The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon] " (Full text and facsimiles from the Pall Mall Gazette (1885))


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 1885 in the United Kingdom — Events from the year 1885 in the United Kingdom.Incumbents*Monarch Victoria of the United Kingdom *Prime Minister William Gladstone, Liberal (until 9 June), Robert Gascoyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, ConservativeEvents* 17 January Mahdist… …   Wikipedia

  • Eliza Armstrong case — The Eliza Armstrong case was a major scandal in the United Kingdom involving a child supposedly bought for prostitution for the purpose of exposing the evils of white slavery. While it achieved its purpose of helping to enable the passage of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 — The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (48 49 Vict. c.69), or An Act to make further provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes , was the latest in a 25 year series of legislation in the United… …   Wikipedia

  • Review of Reviews — The Review of Reviews was a noted monthly journal founded in 1890 in London by British reform journalist William Thomas Stead (1849 1912). In 1891 Stead started the American Monthly Review of Reviews edited by the American academic, journalist,… …   Wikipedia

  • William Thomas Stead — William T. Stead en 1905 Naissance 5 juillet 1849 Embleto …   Wikipédia en Français

  • William T. Stead — (1881) William Thomas Stead (* 5. Juli 1849 in Embleton, Northumberland, England; † 15. April 1912 im Nordatlantik) war ein britischer Journalist, Redakteur und Spiritualist, der vor allem auf dem Gebiet des investig …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Age of consent — For other uses, see Age of consent (disambiguation). Sex and the law Social issues Age of consent · Antisexualis …   Wikipedia

  • publishing, history of — Introduction       an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry responsible for the… …   Universalium

  • William Thomas Stead — (5 July 1849 15 April 1912) was an English journalist. He was born in Darlington, the son of a Congregational minister.Early journalismHe attended Silcoates School in Wakefield, but was early apprenticed in a merchant s office at Newcastle on… …   Wikipedia

  • Investigative journalism — For the Community episode, see Investigative Journalism (Community). Journalism News · Writing style Ethics · Object …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”