'The men of culture are the true apostles of equality.' Matthew Arnold's famous
series of essays, which were first published in book form under the title Cultur
e and Anarchy in 1869, debate important questions about the nature of culture an
d society that are as relevant now as they have ever been. Arnold seeks to find
out 'what culture really is, what good it can do, what is our own special need o
f it' in an age of rapid social change and increasing mechanization. He contrast
s culture, 'the study of perfection', with anarchy, the mood of unrest and uncer
tainty that pervaded mid-Victorian England.
