The Commerce of Everyday Life: Selections from the Tatler and the Spectator

by Erin Mackie (Editor), Richard Steele, Joseph Addison

This volume offers a selection of essays from The Tatler and The Spectator (1709 - 1714), together with documents that have been carefully chosen to put these periodical papers into the social and historical contexts of Joseph Addison's and Richard Steele's eighteenth century. Including excerpts from other periodicals such as The Guardian, The London Spy, and The Female Tatler, advertisements from The Tatler and The Spectator, and selections by Defoe, Ward, Flecknoe, Gay, Mandeville, Pope, and Swift, the documents focus special attention on the market of public opinion, commerce and finance, fashioning taste, and fashioning gender.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, History, Literature, British Literature

617 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Hannah Willey · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a selection, the sections Mackie put together provide an interesting insight into the attitudes of the early eighteenth century - there’s a wider variety than I was expecting, investigating politics, medicine, religion, morality, charity, social disparity and gender in their discussions of commerce.

I had to read this for my uni course, and overall found it a pretty agitating read. The sense of both arrogance and ignorance on the writers’ part can be difficult to get through, not to mention self-contradictory ideologies they express when defining their values. Luckily, my course paired this with Ignatius Sancho’s letters which condemn attitudes such as those from The Spectator, showing that part of the motive behind Mackie’s release of these extracts are to give accounts of harmful social attitudes.

[James Violand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not doubt the influence these two, short-lived early periodicals had on the evolving mercantile class in early 18th century England, but it is an excruciating read. Over a quarter of the book concerns self-congratulatory editorials of the periodicals as to their noble aspirations to gently nudge society into a higher plain than the then current morass infecting London. The book is separated by the apparently Liberal editor into four sections: Public Opinion, Commerce and Consumption, How to Manipulate Tastes, and Fashioning Gender (don’t get me started). The various epistles on these topics – amply contributed to by some of the foremost literary talents of the times (Swift, Defoe, Pope to name a few) – show an attempt by the “Betters” to control and influence the rising tide of an increasingly powerful middle class. The Church and the Aristocracy no longer swayed the public. Distributed and discussed throughout the coffee-houses of London, The Tatler, The Spectator and other periodicals attempted to assume the role. They did help shape behavior.
The book is a slog through mundane material, similar to an effort to inspect every envelope, drawer, box, carton and every do-dad and gimcrack, in a deceased stranger’s property. The deeper you delve into the trunks and boxes, your awareness swells that you’re a sucker and there is no hidden gem in the whole house.

[Paul Jellinek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lengthy compendium of essays and articles, mainly by Addison and Steele but also by other notables of the time (like Jonathan Swift and Bernard Mandeville), provides a fascinating look into the social and cultural world of early 18th century London. Many of the essays are also very well written, peppered with plenty of dry British wit. Not exactly a quick read, but highly satisfying if you allow yourself the time to work through it at a leisurely pace, one brilliant essay at a time.

[Mesoscope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding basic collection of material from two extremely witty and influential dailies from London of yore, superbly annotated and amplified by extensive essays and contemporaneous material. Undoubtedly the best small collection currently in print - highly recommended for fans of Richard Steele and Joseph Addison.

[Sarah Milner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's written in 18th century England, with caustic and sneering comments on others life and decorum. Not a read for everyone.