The triggers were different then perhaps (rapid industrialization, urbanization?)
There was widespread discussion of social degeneracy, decadence, loss of spiritual values.
Quoting wikipedia:
"England's ideological space was affected by the philosophical waves of pessimism sweeping Europe, starting with philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer's work from before 1860 and gradually influencing artists internationally. R. H. Goodale identified 235 essays by British and American authors concerning pessimism, ranging from 1871 to 1900, showing the prominence of pessimism in conjunction with English ideology."
The triggers were different then perhaps (rapid industrialization, urbanization?)
There was widespread discussion of social degeneracy, decadence, loss of spiritual values. Quoting wikipedia: "England's ideological space was affected by the philosophical waves of pessimism sweeping Europe, starting with philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer's work from before 1860 and gradually influencing artists internationally. R. H. Goodale identified 235 essays by British and American authors concerning pessimism, ranging from 1871 to 1900, showing the prominence of pessimism in conjunction with English ideology."