Introduction: Aristocratic women and Victorian political culture

This introductory chapter examines why historians have often overlooked the pivotal role Lady Mary Derby played in mid-Victorian politics. It argues that, despite the processes of political reform, the Victorian aristocracy still retained their political status. It explores how this status combined with particular features of political culture to help facilitate the political careers of aristocratic women. As such, it suggests that by paying close attention to Mary’s activities, we are afforded a fuller picture of Victorian political culture than might otherwise be the case. It then considers Victorian understandings of political femininity, exploring how contemporaries sought to explain, delineate, and confine female political influence. Finally, this chapter closes with an outline of the chapters that make up the rest of the book.