‘Astonished and somewhat terrified’ – Victorians’ reactions to the phonograph

In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph – the world’s first device capable of capturing and playing back sound. By 1888, Edison had relaunched it for broader commercial use. To promote his invention in Britain, as this video essay from the YouTube channel Kings and Things details, he enlisted Colonel George Gouraud, an American Civil War veteran turned entrepreneur. At his south London home, Gouraud hosted lavish gatherings where influential Victorians, fuelled by wine and curiosity, marvelled at the phonograph’s ability to record and relay their voices. Heard today, these recordings provide a riveting glimpse into Victorian manners, language and life.