Libraly Journal

Libraly Journal ›› 2026, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (9): 134-144.

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Commercial Profit and Moral Regulation: Mudie's Circulating Library and Public Reading in Victorian Britain

Liu Jing   

  • Online:2026-09-15 Published:2026-09-24
  • About author:Liu Jing

Abstract: In 19th-century Britain, circulating libraries offering book-borrowing paid services flourished, with the most influential one being the Mudie's Select Library founded by Charles Edward Mudie. Since its establishment in 1842, Mudie's Library achieved remarkable success through advanced marketing strategies and innovative business practices. It not only generated substantial profits but also profoundly shaped public reading culture in Victorian Britain through economic means. Under its influence, three-volume novels, rigorously vetted for moral compliance, became the dominant literary form in British fiction. British reading culture exhibited a trend toward popularization, while the status and impact of female readers began to rise significantly.