[Life in Regency and Early Victorian Times] [By: Beresford Chancellor, E.] [September, 2007]

by Edwin Beresford Chancellor

Life in Regency and Early Victorian Times paints a vivid picture of British life during the period 1800 to 1850. It was a remarkable time, one where change and innovation ran through the whole of society, from the arts, science and architecture to the smallest details of everyday dress, entertainment and manners. As flamboyant dandies held court in fashionable London clubs, others flocked to the booming health resorts. Eventually, the decadence of George IV's reign gave way to the more sober Victorian era. Originally published in 1926, E Beresford Chancellor's survey of the first half of the nineteenth century is a highly readable history, bringing the period to life with a witty, informed style and numerous contemporary illustrations.

Genres: History

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

The son of an estate agent, Edwin Beresford Chancellor (1868 -4 February 1937) graduated from the University of Oxford and worked as a land and estate agent for pursuing his career as an author. He was best known for his works on the history of London, as well as a six-volume Lives of the Rakes.

Reviews

[Curlemagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1926, Chancellor was clearly writing for an educated English audience broadly familiar with the era a century earlier. His vocabulary is lofty (the legal term "in abeyance" is used as simile at least 4 times), he regularly deploys French idioms without translation, and he does not explain personages as varied as Brummel (the fashion icon), Pitt and Disraeli (the politicians), Dr. Johnson and Sydney Smith (the wits), and Burney and Thackeray (the novelists). If you don't know them, tough luck! Most of the time he doesn't even include first names, let alone describe their accomplishments. And boy, are a lot of names dropped.

However, if you DO know said historical figures from other sources, I think this is one of the more enjoyable reference guides I've read. While the familiar anecdotes pop up from time to time (Brummel's oneliners, lords being turned away at Almack's after midnight), the focus is less on specific gossip and more on general lifestyles.

The book centers on London and largely but not entirely on the upper classes, an excellent survey of architecture, music, theatre, art, geography, etc. (Very little on fashion, though.) A very handy reference of place names and activities for me to research further, describing the changing culture over 50 years in a fond but not fawning tone towards his ancestors. Chancellor pulls no punches about his own taste but treats both Regency and Victorian styles with equal consideration.

Essentially no footnotes, but an absolutely stunning collection of art, from portraits to story illustrations. I appreciate that Chancellor avoided cartoons/caricatures in favor of more realistic works.

While a few expensive used copies of this exist on Amazon, I found the text in full on the free digital library website HathiTrust, as scanned by Indiana University. I wish it were cheaper, because Ian Mortimer's "Time Traveler's Guide" might be more comprehensive, better sourced, and more useful for 21st century readers; but I'd rather have this one on my shelf.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great easy read for anyone seeking more information on the regency and early victorian period. Only 4 out of 5 stars because I think there are several others that were easier to read, more informative - but still a great book.