In Victorian times, the division between British and American culture was not nearly as defined as it is now. During this period, Americans were still trying to decide what British traditions were theirs and what to leave behind. In Washington Irving’s case, at the very least, there was anxiety as to what America might be losing as it slowly drifted away from British culture. On the other side of the Atlantic, Britain watched in horror as tensions rose in the United States and eventually erupted into civil war. We can observe many British writers' disgust with American slavery and yet a curious sympathy with what they perceived as the gentlemanly ways of the south. American politics were starting to worm their way into British minds, and it is fascinating to see how these two powers decide who they are (and who they aren’t) in contrast to one another.Henty, G. A. Yule Logs, 1898Alcott, Louisa May. The Christmas Cake, 1855
