Divorce And Politics In Late Nineteenth Century England: Dilke And Parnell

One of the more obvious characteristics of the Victorian era in the history of England was the attitude that Englishmen held on the subject of sexual morality. The moral views to which they subscribed made no distinctions of birth, station in life, or political prominence. Involvement in moral scandal resulted in the same penalty for all. A number of men of high station became involved in scandals because of the strict divorce laws in England. Among these were two who reached the pinnacle of political achievement and were toppled when the public became aware of their questionable morals -- Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke and Charles Stewart Parnell.