English Society in the Eighteenth Century (Penguin Social History of Britain)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference for behind the scenes look
Review: Being a huge fan of period films, I was curious to see just what life was really like in the time of powered wigs, petticoats, and parties. This book has opened my eyes to see what it really WAS like---and I have to say, the Hollywood version is much easier to take! Still, it is a very fascinating time period to study. The author's narration is very clear and focused, and although he writes at a higher level, he is not incomprehensible. This book is well worth the read =).

Rating:
Summary: A Pure Delight
Review: I come late to Porter, and I certainly wish I hadn't. It's almost enough to make me surrender my credentials as a dyed-in-the-wool lover of English History. The deceased physician cum historian was a prolific writer, turning out works on subjects as diverse as English manners and the social history of gout. But having now read two of his books, including this excellent overview of English society in the Georgian period, I realize what all the (quiet) fuss was about. Porter was simply a fabulous writer who happened to be an historian, the opposite too often not being the case. I doubt very much there is a better source in this subject for the general reader than this book. But if you buy it, by all means read it slowly and take time to savor the writing. The good news for me is that I have a lot of Porter yet to read, and I can't wait.

Rating:
Summary: A Pure Delight
Review: I come late to Porter, and I certainly wish I hadn't. It's almost enough to make me surrender my credentials as a dyed-in-the-wool lover of English History. The deceased physician cum historian was a prolific writer, turning out works on subjects as diverse as English manners and the social history of gout. But having now read two of his books, including this excellent overview of English society in the Georgian period, I realize what all the (quiet) fuss was about. Porter was simply a fabulous writer who happened to be an historian, the opposite too often not being the case. I doubt very much there is a better source in this subject for the general reader than this book. But if you buy it, by all means read it slowly and take time to savor the writing. The good news for me is that I have a lot of Porter yet to read, and I can't wait.

Rating:
Summary: Immensely interesting!
Review: I enjoyed this book so much that I look forward to reading more of Porter's books.

Some readers may find it necessary to keep a dictionary close by, but don't let this put you off if you are interested in the social history of England in the 18th century.

The author manages to balance dry statistics with extremely interesting facts, all written in a reader-friendly manner. Chapter headings such as "Power, Politics and the Law" and "Having and Enjoying" give you an idea of the wide scope of the book.

The reader will find more enjoyment in reading 18th century works (novels, biography and non-fiction) after being educated by this book.

I oftentimes read, then sell my books. This is one I will not sell. I only wish I had it in hardcover.

If "What Jane Austen Knew and Charles Dickens Ate" (sic) left you crying for some serious information about this age, I recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: History at its best!
Review: Interesting and thought-provoking.
As always, Roy Porter has written a wonderful book---of use to both the general reader and the specialist. The book is filled with wonderful characters, fascinating facts and, of course, Porter's insightful analysis.
Porter once commented that he met a student reading this book on a train. When he asked the student (who did not know who he was) what he thought of the book, the student replied that it was boring (Porter thought this story was hilarious). I have to wonder what planet the student was on! This is the kind of book you only wished your professors had assigned!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and irritating
Review: Oh, yes, there are a lot of other reviewers who like this book, but I found it somewhat nauseating. Porter's book, originally published in 1990, does not fail to reflect the author's prejudices, which are cattily expressed in a barely concealed yet perfectly clear professorial snobbishness as regards the "elites" of 18th c. England. As the son and grandson of university academics, perhaps I find myself over-sensitive to this sort of thing, but one cannot but wonder if Roy Porter isn't subject to just a bit of the olde English class envy from which the overly self-conscious and upwardly mobile can suffer. Supper at the High Table with hooray Harrys must be sheer torture for him, poor man. Otherwise, it's a competent, workmanlike attempt at an overview of 18th century society, but not much more.

Rating:
Summary: Difficult but good
Review: This is a good study of English life of the 18th century. It is written by a brit, using their slang and spellings, at the college level.

I found his comparisons of life in England to life on the European continent very interesting and informative. His slant on the individual liberties to which most Englishmen felt they were entitled was enlightening.

This is a difficult book and I found myself looking up words in the dictionary frequently, but for someone who is seriously interested in knowing what life was like in Great Britain in the 1700s, it is a good choice.