The Man is a novel that is reminiscent from the Victorian era of British history, culture and society, which encompassed the period of the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The Victorian era was considered a long period pf peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national pride for Britain. Culturally, the Victorian era was a bold transition from the preceding Georgian era, a period largely defined by logic and rationalism, and a progression towards romanticism and mysticism in terms of religion, societal values, and the arts. In international relations, the era was widely regarded as a period of peace, and Britain involved themselves with very little conflict. With domestic relations, the political agenda was becoming increasingly liberal, marked by shifts in the direction of political reform, as well as industrial and social reform. Additionally, during the Victorian Era, Britain experienced an unprecedented economic, demographic and population growth. The end of the Victorian period, during which The Man was written, coincided with the Belle poque (meaning "Beautiful Era") era of continental Europe. Similarly to the Victorian era in Britain, this time period was characterized by optimism, peace, advances in technology, as well as new scientific discoveries. This phenomenon of peace and prosperity allowed the arts to flourish, and many European works of literature gained recognition.