‘[D]onning the Garb of a Pit Girl again’: Imagining the ‘Pit Brow Lassie’ in Late-Victorian Fiction

Abstract This article analyses various representations of the figure ‘pit brow lassie’ with a particular emphasis on two novels; Frances Hodgson Burnett’s That Lass O’ Lowrie’s (1877) and John Monk Foster’s A Pit Brow Lassie (1889). It argues that pit women provided focus for discussions interplay class gender roles in Victorian Britain. The begins by tracing history attitudes towards women’s employment mines Britain role which visual played campaigns against their employment. then way representation shifts from an ideologeme pity to one respect self-respect. novel is, part, re-purposing earlier ‘Condition England’ novels replacing as main axis social reconciliation. As part this it while uses perceived deficiencies working-class justify agency middle-class counterparts, also represents its heroine object desire. Next explores highlighting ways both normalizes defends work and, contrast novel, makes female labour integral development plot. differs these differences arise combination generic, publication authorial factors. However, despite eschews favour respect/self-respect.