For Lack of Gold - Classic Text | Alexandria
For Lack of Gold
Encyclopedia Entry
"For Lack of Gold" is a significant literary work authored by Adam Austin, a pseudonym used by Augusta Webster (1837-1894), one of Victorian England's most accomplished yet often overlooked poets and writers. Published in 1865 by Macmillan and Company, this three-volume novel represents a pivotal moment in the development of Victorian social commentary fiction, particularly regarding themes of economic disparity and gender roles.
The novel first emerged during a period of intense social reform in Britain, coinciding with the Second Reform Bill debates and growing discourse around women's rights. Its publication under a male pseudonym reflects the common practice of female authors of the era seeking broader acceptance in the literary marketplace, following the precedent set by authors like George Eliot and Currer Bell.
At its core, "For Lack of Gold" tells the story of a young woman's struggle against financial constraints and societal expectations, weaving together elements of romance, social criticism, and psychological insight. The work gained particular notice for its unflinching examination of class mobility and the economic barriers facing women in Victorian society. Contemporary reviews in The Athenaeum and The Saturday Review praised its "remarkable power of observation" and "acute social commentary," though some critics found its themes controversial.
The novel's legacy extends beyond its initial reception, serving as an important document of Victorian literary culture and women's writing. Modern scholars have recognized it as a significant contribution to the period's social problem novels, with its exploration of financial inequity remaining remarkably relevant to contemporary discussions of economic justice and gender equality. The work's publication under a masculine pseudonym continues to generate scholarly interest in questions of authorial identity and gender in Victorian publishing practices, while its nuanced treatment of class and gender dynamics offers valuable insights into nineteenth-century social history.
The recent rediscovery of Austin/Webster's correspondence regarding the novel's publication has sparked renewed academic interest, suggesting that further research may yield additional insights into both the work's creation and its author's strategic navigation of the Victorian literary marketplace.