The Birth of a Consumer Society: The Commercialization of Eighteenth-Century England

by Neil McKendrick, John Brewer, J.H. Plumb

This enormously influential book by three leading historians was a revolution in the understanding of commercialisation and the economy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the consumer revolution.Neil McKendrick studies the fashion and the pottery industries, and created a new framework for enquiring into fundamental issues. John Brewer examines the commercialisation and politics. J.H. Plumb considers the social; changes brought about by commercialization, looking in particular at leisure, the `new world' of children, and the acceptance of modernity.

Genres: History, 18th Century, Academic, British Literature

345 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Julaine]

DONE, RETURNED

[Carol Fischer]

The author's note much of the Industrial Revolution (IR) has been documented from the supply side, they dive into the demand component. I found this an interesting read - did not understand so much of the IR was the production of small, relatively inexpensive items as toothpicks, buckles,buttons etc. Nor was I familiar with the marketing of such - or that Wedgewood was a master at making some items exclusive and destined for great manor homes, stoking the demand from the expanding middle class. Lastly, I was not aware of the great impact the sudden availability of books (including children's). Just some of the highlights for me!