Key Figures of the Victorian Era Who Inspired Steampunk

Welcome to the world of steampunk, an artistic and literary genre that fuses Victorian aesthetics with fictional technology based on steam engines. This fascinating genre draws inspiration from several famous people and works, some of which date back centuries. In this blog, we will explore the main influences of the steampunk genre and examine how they helped shape the genre as we know it today. We will see how the works of many authors have been responsible for creating a genre that is now widely loved by fans all over the world.

famous person	They are known for?
Charles Dickens	His Victorian stories created unforgettable atmosphere and characters.
Jules Verne	His visionary inventions and his stories of anticipation have left a lasting mark on steampunk.
HG Wells	Known for his concepts of time travel and alien invasions, he is a cornerstone of steampunk.
Queen Victoria	His reign saw an explosion of industrialization and technological advancements.
Nikola Tesla	His work in electricity and his futuristic inventions directly inspired the genre.
Thomas Edison	A prolific inventor whose many inventions contributed to steampunk aesthetics and ideas.
Arthur Conan Doyle	Creator of Sherlock Holmes, he inspired steampunk tales of scientific investigations and mysteries.
Georges Méliès	A cinema pioneer who used special effects to create steampunk fantasy worlds.
Mary Shelley	His novel "Frankenstein" fused science and horror, prefiguring gothic steampunk.
Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace	Forerunners of modern computing, their work on calculating machines inspired the concepts of steampunk machines.
Lewis Carroll	Author of "Alice in Wonderland", he inspired imaginary and surrealist worlds.
Herbert Spencer	Philosopher and sociologist influencing thinking on technological progress.
Michael Faraday	His discoveries in electromagnetism inspired concepts of advanced technology.
Rudyard Kipling	Author of adventure and travel stories influencing steampunk stories.
George Stephenson	A railway engineer, his innovations are fundamental to the steampunk aesthetic.
Florence Nightingale	Nursing reformer, inspiring steampunk humanitarian stories.
William Morris	Member of the Arts and Crafts movement, influencing the craft aesthetic of steampunk.
Richard Francis Burton	Explorer and writer inspiring steampunk adventures and discoveries.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel	A civil engineer, his work is a source of inspiration for steampunk machines.

Victorian Era Influences on Steampunk

The Victorian era was a huge source of inspiration for steampunk. Writers like Charles Dickens and HG Wells helped shape the genre with their works, creating unforgettable characters and imaginative worlds that still resonate today. Queen Victoria’s reign also saw a revolution in technology and industry, which laid the foundation for steampunk, which relies on steam engines and steam machinery for its settings and narratives. Writers like Jules Verne and Oscar Wilde also contributed to the genre with their works, introducing new elements and ideas that are now considered an integral part of steampunk culture. All of these authors helped create a unique world that continues to captivate readers today. Their contributions have been an invaluable inspiration for steampunk fans. So let’s explore the world of steampunk and find out how it has evolved over time!

Queen Victoria and the Victorian Revolution

Queen Victoria: She is credited with starting the "Victorian Revolution" that helped usher in the industrial age around the world. Her reign was marked by a wave of technological advancements, industrialization, and societal changes that ushered in a new era. Her leadership was instrumental in advancing science, technology, and engineering,

Her indirect contribution to the steampunk genre cannot be ignored, as she was the inspiration behind all the products and inventions that helped transform the world into what it is today. The British culture of the Victorian era is also the preferred universe of the steampunk style in general.

Finally, the Victorian era was an unprecedented time in literature, with authors such as Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde creating works that still serve as inspiration for steampunk fans. The Victorian Revolution also saw the emergence of new forms of entertainment, including film and photography, which were later incorporated into steampunk stories by filmmakers such as Georges Méliès.

How did Charles Dickens' works inspire the Steampunk genre?

Charles Dickens' works paved the way for a world full of fantastic and colorful characters. His stories set in cities imbued with a typical Victorian atmosphere are a source of inspiration for many steampunk universes. The characters, objects and other inventions that can be found in his books still provide ideas to fans of the genre today.

A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations introduced a new form of storytelling that blended science fiction with a Victorian setting. His stories were often filled with fantastical inventions and machines, as well as larger-than-life characters, making him an ideal source for contemporary writers. His works also shed light on the social inequalities of the Victorian era, inspiring people to create stories that explore morality and justice in modern society. They may not necessarily feature airships or automatons, but his works helped shape the steampunk vibe we know today. So if you want to delve into an endearing and human Victorian world, start with Charles Dickens!

Jules Verne, the father of Steampunk?

Jules Verne's works frequently touch on fascinating topics that are related to steampunk, such as fantastical voyages and a type of science fiction based on scientific anticipation. His novels explore with interesting nuance how technology can be used for both positive and negative purposes. Many of his ideas have been carried over into more recent works, showing how his influence has been lasting with works like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. The author's strange and visionary inventions are a recurring theme in steampunk. Many writers and filmmakers have drawn inspiration from Verne's adventures, indirectly making him one of the fathers of modern steampunk.

HG Wells, science fiction and retrofuturism

H. G. Wells was a British writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for his science fiction works such as " The Time Machine ", "The War of the Worlds", and "The Island of Doctor Moreau". His stories introduced concepts such as time travel, alien invasions, and scientific experiments on animals, which influenced many other science fiction writers and were adapted into films and television series. Wells is also considered a founding father of steampunk, as his stories often included steam engines and futuristic mechanisms that inspired steampunk inventions such as airships, robots, and futuristic weaponry. He has remained an iconic science fiction author and his stories continue to inspire generations to come.

Georges Méliès, Steampunk Cinema before its time

French filmmaker of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for his magical and wondrous films. He is considered one of the first filmmakers in history and directed over 500 films. He was one of the pioneers of cinematic magic using trickery and special effects to create fantastical stories and illusions. His films often included themes such as time travel, fantasy worlds, and flying machines , which influenced many other filmmakers and were adapted into films and television series. He has remained an iconic filmmaker in the history of cinema and his films continue to inspire generations to come.

Nikola Tesla, the cursed genius

He was a Serbian inventor and genius of the Victorian era, known for his contributions to electricity and mechanics. He was one of the greatest scientific minds of his time and made many inventions that played an important role in the development of modern technology. He is best known for his work on induction motors, which were used to power industrial machinery, transportation systems, and household electrical systems. He also worked on concepts such as wireless transmission of electrical energy, electromagnetic weapons, and free energy technologies, which influenced many inventors and scientists of his time. He is an inspiration for science fiction and the steampunk genre, as his inventions often included steam engines and futuristic mechanisms that inspired inventions after his death. Check out the Tesla Watch , a tribute to this unfairly underrated scientist.

Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes

The famous detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle, has been a model for many steampunk science fiction characters. His stories featuring scientific investigations and puzzles to solve have inspired steampunk works such as "Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of Steampunk ". Other works that have been inspired by Sherlock Holmes can also be mentioned, such as "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century" which presents a futuristic universe where the famous detective works with robots to solve criminal investigations. In summary, Arthur Conan Doyle's stories have had a great influence on the steampunk genre and characters like Sherlock Holmes have been a model for many steampunk science fiction characters.

Robert Louis Stevenson

This Scottish novelist of the Victorian era, known for his works of science fiction and fantasy adventures such as "Treasure Island" and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". His stories introduced concepts such as fantastic voyages and pirates , mental illness and scientific experiments on animals, which influenced many other science fiction writers and were adapted into films and television series . He is considered one of the pioneers of modern science fiction, and his imaginative writing style and the themes he addressed have been an inspiration to steampunk authors and creators of fictional worlds. Steampunk universes were greatly inspired by Stevenson's imaginative works, which introduced steam engines and futuristic mechanisms that inspired steampunk inventions such as airships, robots and futuristic weapons. He has remained an iconic novelist and his stories continue to inspire generations to come.

The works of Oscar Wilde and Steampunk

Oscar Wilde is another major influence on steampunk for his dandy style and free speech, a true punk before his time. He was one of the first authors to bridge the gap between science fiction and fantasy in literature such as with "The Picture of Dorian Gray", creating stories that blended the two genres in unique and imaginative ways. Aside from his groundbreaking writing, Wilde also helped popularize the eccentric fashion and aesthetics now associated with the steampunk man . His works inspired authors such as Jules Verne, who created stories exploring morality, justice, and technology in a Victorian setting. So if you want to take a trip into the world of steampunk, be sure to read Oscar Wilde too.

Mary Shelley, the flagrant link between Steampunk and Gothic

Mary Shelley is a key figure of the Victorian era who helped shape the science fiction and fantasy adventure genre with her novel "Frankenstein". Her novel inspired generations to imagine what science and technology can create. The Modern Prometheus questions the right to create new forms of life and the dangers of playing God. Mechanical elements and the Industrial Revolution are ever-present in this work, making it a great starting point for your steampunk exploration.

The mixture of horror and technology forms a bridge between the two styles that appear close for the first time, from gothic steampunk in short (although officially steampunk did not exist before 1987). Moreover, its so pessimistic vision of the moral and social implications of technology is profound and interesting, and it deserves to be examined more closely.

Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace

Babbage was a 19th-century British mathematician and inventor known as the "father of the computer". He designed two calculating machines, known as the "analytical engine" and the "differential engine", which have been considered precursors to modern computers. Babbage began work on his first machine in 1833, but despite years of work and considerable investment, he never succeeded in fully building it. However, his ideas and plans inspired many Victorian inventors. He also developed important concepts in computer programming, data processing, and methods of machine construction. Babbage is considered one of the main precursors of modern computing, and his work continues to influence research in this field to this day.

Ada Lovelace was a 19th-century British mathematician and poet who became famous for her work on Charles Babbage's machines. She was the first to understand that Babbage's machines could be used for mathematical calculations, not just business calculations. She wrote notes that were published in 1843, in which she described the concepts of data processing, programming, and computational loops. It is now known that the first computer scientist in history was a woman.

Bram Stoker

The author who popularized the genre of gothic novels with his masterpiece "Dracula". His contribution to literature is undeniable and his influence on steampunk is evident. He introduced themes such as occultism, witchcraft, and supernatural creatures, which have become an integral part of this genre. The modern era in "Dracula" mixes with the monsters and supernatural creatures of yesteryear. This has inspired steampunk works in different styles:

• those that feature characters using futuristic weapons and gadgets to fight supernatural forces.
• The dark and disturbing atmosphere of "Dracula" inspired those which take place in dystopian and oppressive universes.
• Bram Stoker's complex and ambiguous characters, such as Count Dracula, inspired steampunk characters who navigate the line between good and evil.
• The tales of travel and exploration in "Dracula" inspired steampunk works that feature characters traveling through strange and fantastical worlds.

In short, Bram Stoker is a literary giant who greatly contributed to shaping fantasy in the Victorian universe, and indirectly steampunk.

The Victorian era was rich with inspiring figures who influenced the steampunk genre. Mathematicians, inventors, writers and artists of this era introduced concepts such as steam engines, robots, airships and mechanical weapons that inspired steampunk inventions. Pioneers such as HG Wells, Georges Melies, Nikola Tesla or Arthur Conan Doyle all helped shape the fantasy world that fuels steampunk. Their contribution to science fiction and influence on steampunk is undeniable and continues to inspire science fiction creators from all walks of life.