Product Description

A portrait of 18th century England, from its princes to its paupers, from its metropolis to its smallest hamlet. The topics covered include - diet, housing, prisons, rural festivals, bordellos, plays, paintings, and work and wages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82486 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

About the Author
Roy Porter was, until his retirement, Professor in the Social History of Medicine at the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. He died in 2002.

Customer Reviews

A superb history of a fascinating century
Roy Porter, who died at the early age of 55, wrote this wonderful history and in many ways it is his memorial. It is comprehensive in its range, provides minute and often colourful details by way of illustration and examples of matters raised, and above all demonstrates an intimate and loving knowledge of the period. Moreover the book is both stylish and witty. A pleasure to read.

A brilliant work of social history
Although jam-packed with details and contemporary quotations, far from being a dry academic work, Roy Porter's book brings the sights, sounds and (almost!) smells of the 18th Century to life.

The book's themes (which include Contrasts, The Social Order, Power, Politics and The Law) cover every aspect of social life, from the aristocracy to the poor, leaving the reader with a very vivid picture of English life.

Porter clearly knows his onions and puts his knowledge into print in an easy to read, frequently humourous, and always memorable fashion, leaving the reader both educated and entertained.

If there is just one book on this time period that you read, then this one needs very serious consideration.