Farringford before 1889

This is a photograph of Farringford, the home of the celebrated Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, by G.G. Napier. Though undated, it speaks volumes about the cultural reverence for literary figures in its time. The image, carefully mounted within the pages of a book, elevates Farringford to a site of pilgrimage, almost a shrine to Tennyson's poetic genius. In Victorian England, literature was not merely entertainment but a source of moral guidance and national pride. Tennyson, as Poet Laureate, embodied these values, his home becoming a symbol of cultural achievement. The choice of photography, a relatively new medium at the time, suggests a desire for authenticity, a direct connection to the poet's world. The surrounding foliage adds to the romanticism, framing the house as a retreat from the modern world. To fully understand this image, we might delve into Victorian periodicals, biographies of Tennyson, and architectural studies of the period, all resources that help us understand the social construction of literary fame and the power of place in shaping cultural identity.