Georgian Delights

by J.H. Plumb

Weidenfeld and Nicolson. dw, inscrip on fep, 160pp

Genres: Nonfiction, History

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Sir John (Jack) Harold Plumb FBA (20 August 1911 – 21 October 2001) was a British historian, known for his books on British 18th-century history.

During the Second World War, Plumb worked in the codebreaking department of the Foreign Office at Bletchley Park, Hut 8 and Hut 4, later Block B. He headed a section working on a German Navy hand cipher, Reservehandverfahren.

Reviews

[Elliot A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since reading Worsley’s Jane Austen at Home I have been rather puzzled about the Georgian time period and how people behaved back then. Not surprisingly, considering Worsley kept mentioning that Austen was, in fact, a true Georgian lady, acting accordingly, quite differently from her Victorian counterparts, including her very proper niece Fanny Knight.

I wanted to know more about how people lived and behaved, but more importantly I was curious about this Georgian code of conduct.

It appears it is quite difficult to find books on this subject matter, since most publications dealing with the Georgian period are more concerned about architecture and art.

Such was the case with this book. Its premise is based on using art to tell the story of Georgian people and how they lived.

The book begins with an extensive introduction about lifestyle, travel, farming and economic improvements and continues to provide many images of Georgian art representing various facets of the Georgian lifestyle, including literature, theatre, sports, and music.

I did find the author jumped in time a bit. One paragraph talked about events happening closer to the end of the 1700’s, he next one mentions facts from the middle of the 1700’s, and more than a few times I asked myself which year the author was referring to, since none was given.

Overall, it was a very interesting read and I found myself getting lost in the many images this book contained. I made a few notes of interesting points, but sadly I couldn’t use much more from it for my thesis. Nevertheless, it is well worth a read. I would recommend it.

ElliotScribbles

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

From 1700 through the early 1800s, mental, social, and physical life in Britain was transformed, particularly for the middle class and above. Travel became far easier and more sought after. Newspapers, books, and literacy proliferated. Racing and boxing became far more popular, and the theater returned to England.

I love how many pictures of art and advertisements of the time are included in this; probably about half this book is made of images. What I didn't love was how scattered, imprecise, and repetitious this book was. Plumb puts ads from 1730 right next to 1880, with no acknowledgement of the huge swath of time between them. He'll say something about roads and then repeat it fifteen pages later, and another thirty pages after that. I found this read worthwhile to dip my toe back into the Georgian period, but look elsewhere for specifics and timelines in regards to inventions, personages, and trends of the period.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study of pastimes in Georgian England. On occasion he overdoes the break with times before, but it was certainly an era of great change. Publishing exploded, including books with instructions on music, helpful with the greatly increased availability of instruments. The rise of subscription balls (held during the winter at the full moon). Touring -- this is divided within the country, and the Grand Tour. Inside the country, you got all sorts of changes. For the first time, the sublime or picturesque wilds were something to be sought up, up to climbing Snowdon in Wales. Country homes were visited to see all the modern marvels, and you visited the newest sites of industry, such as the Wedgewood factories, though you preferred the sublime such as forges and mines.

The second part is heavily illustrations of the era showing the elements.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s engaging and accessible to read

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars