The Victorian era (1837–1901) was a period marked by industrial revolution, scattered religious beliefs and technological advancements. In the midst of everything, the ocean played a central role in shaping the cultural, economic, and ecological landscapes of the time. The British Empire’s reliance on maritime trade routes and naval power made the ocean a key site of economic and political activity. The expansion of global trade, driven by steamships and colonial ventures, brought the ocean into the everyday lives of Victorians. At the same time, scientific discoveries, such as Charles Darwin’s studies of marine life during the HMS Beagle voyage (1831–1836) and the publication of Matthew Fontaine Maury’s The Physical Geography of the Sea (1855), deepened public interest in oceanography. These developments are reflected in Victorian literature, where water often serves as a symbol of exploration, exploitation, and existential reflection.

For example, Charles Dickens’s Dombey and Son (1848) uses the sea to represent both economic power and personal loss, while Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (1899) critiques the imperial exploitation of riverine and oceanic spaces. However, this book seeks to expand the focus beyond canonical texts to include works by less-celebrated authors. William Clark Russell, a maritime novelist, depicted the harsh realities of seafaring life in works like The Wreck of the Grosvenor (1877) which highlights the material conditions of Victorian sailors. Similarly, Augusta Webster’s poem A Castawa (1870), explores the ocean as a locus of gendered and ecological struggle which were directly revolting against the victorian societal expectations. The Victorian era also saw the beginnings of modern environmental degradation, with industrial pollution and overfishing impacting marine ecosystems. Literary works from this period often reflect an emerging awareness of these changes. Yet, as David Helvarg aptly noted, “More is known about the dark side of the moon than is known about the depths of the oceans.” Modern scholars, including John Gillies, who advocates for a return to the sea, and Elizabeth DeLoughrey, who highlights the significance of water as a subject of inquiry, have reinforced the urgency of oceanic studies. By examining Victorian literature through the lens of the Blue Humanities, this book aims to trace the historical roots of current ecological crises and explore how literature can inspire more sustainable ways of thinking about water and the natural world. 

This call for papers invites contributions that examine the role of water in Victorian literature, including its representation in maritime labor, trade, colonial encounters, and scientific discourse. We encourage submissions that focus on lesser-known texts, as well as interdisciplinary approaches that draw on history, ecology, and oceanographic studies. Topics may include: the depiction of water as a site of economic, political power or metaphorical significance; the influence of oceanographic science on literary forms; the gendered dimensions of water in Victorian texts; and the ecological implications of Victorian maritime narratives. 

Themes and Subcategories:

• Victorian Literature and Blue Humanities   

• Victorian Literature and Marine Ecologies   

• Victorian Literature and Maritime Trade   

• Victorian Literature and Oceanic Imperialism    

• Water, Gender, and Victorian Literature     

• The River, the Shore, and the City in Victorian Texts   

• Victorian England and Oceanography   

• Mythology and the Sea in Victorian Literature   

• Performing the Sea in Victorian Theatre and Art   

Submission Guidelines

- Abstract Submission: Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words outlining the proposed chapter's main arguments and contributions.

- Full Chapter Submission: Complete chapters should be between 3,000 to 5,000 words

- Font : Times New Roman, 12

- Line Spacing : Double spaced

- Formatting : MLA 9th Edition 

Please send your abstract and a brief bio note to the following email IDs  shaonl94_llg@jnu.ac.in & ritamd.english.rs@jadavpuruniversity.in.For any inquiries or further information, feel free to contact the editors at the same email address.

The edited book will be published by a reputed publisher with an ISBN. There will be no publication charges.

Important Dates

- Abstract Submission Deadline 31st March, 2025

- Notification of Acceptance: 15th April, 2025

- Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 15th July, 2025

- Tentative date of publication: February 2026

Editors,

Shaonli Bhowmik

Doctoral Research Scholar 

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)

shaonl94_llg@jnu.ac.in

Ritam Dutta

Doctoral Research Scholar 

Jadavpur University 

ritamd.english.rs@jadavpuruniversity.in