All Things Georgian: Tales from the Long Eighteenth-Century

by Joanne Major, Sarah Murden

Take a romp through the long eighteenth-century in this collection of 25 short tales.

Marvel at the Queen's Ass, gaze at the celestial heavens through the eyes of the past and be amazed by the equestrian feats of the Norwich Nymph. Journey to the debauched French court at Versailles, travel to Covent Garden and take your seat in a box at the theater and, afterwards, join the mile-high club in a newfangled hot air balloon.

Meet actresses, whores and highborn ladies, politicians, inventors, royalty and criminals as we travel through the Georgian era in all its glorious and gruesome glory.

In roughly chronological order, covering the reign of the four Georges, 1714-1830 and set within the framework of the main events of the era, these tales are accompanied by over 100 stunning color illustrations.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2019

Reviews

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant romp through the Georgian world, this is a fun, easy to read book all about an era that in itself could be construed as fun a lot of the time. The writing is clear, entertaining and knowledgeable, there is a real fun, energetic and carefree feel to this which a lot of that is down to the fact that Sarah and Joanne are hugely passionate about this era, so much so that you literally fall into the Georgia era through the pages, add in the beautiful colour pictures that run through the book and you have a real feast for the senses.

I love how this is written, it is made up of a selection of short stories; so it’s not bombarding you with page after page of facts and figures, but gives you a short story and history lesson of each chapters particular subject, which personally I do prefer this way of reading nonfiction it, keeps it light and fun and will keep you reading.

I like how the authors lean heavily towards the women of the era instead of just focusing on men’s accomplishments, there are so many great little stories in this, I can guarantee there is something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed the more obscure stories such as the smuggler queen chapter; which was hugely fascinating, the story about Alicia Massingham the female jockey; was enlightening and off course the hot air balloon ride was brilliant and eye- opening chapter, one that has made me want to learn more and then there is the story of Jenny Cameron; who dressed as a man and fought along side her husband at the battle of Culloden.

Another thing that I really liked about this is that the book isn’t made up of royals and aristocrat’s, there are stories about real and normal people who achieved something great, these are people who have been cast into the shadows of history, so I did like that. What I got from this is that the Georgian era was far more innovative then I originally thought, this book was definitely full of surprises.

Over all this is a fabulous read, highly recommended, no matter what you read, if you love your history then you will all find something in the book to love.

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Rosie Croft, from Pen & Sword, for providing me a hardback copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
This book would make a perfect present for anybody who loves history and historical anecdote, especially from the Georgian era. There are elements that make it useful for reference (it includes family trees for the Hanover House and for the Stuarts, who were also pretenders to the crown; there is a timeline of the main events, covering the whole era [from 1714, when George I’s reign began, to 1830, when George IV died], a map of the UK highlighting all the towns and locations later mentioned in the book, and a detailed bibliography at the back of the book, listing the sources the authors have used to compile each one of the 25 chapters). This is a beautiful book, full of colour illustrations, that would delight art lovers (there are landscapes highlighting the settings of many of the stories and also, portraits of public figures, aristocrats, and other people who are the protagonists of the stories, some by famous artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds), as well as drawings and cartoons of the period, which help set the stories in their context.
As the authors explain in the introduction, the period has long fascinated people, and not only historians, because it was a quickly evolving era and many events that would change the world took place around this time: the French and the American Revolutions, Napoleon’s rise and fall, technological advances and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, and many scientific discoveries as well. The book does not cover the whole era in detail, as it would be impossible, and instead choses to pick up some specific events and historical figures that help highlight different aspects of the time, and manage to create a good picture of the era as a whole.
Although the content of the book mostly centres on events in the UK, there are also a couple of chapters dedicated to French characters (notably one to the attempted escape by Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI, to Varennes), and the protagonists do range far and wide, including people from all walks of life. To my delight, there are many episodes dedicated to women (we have male impersonators [probably!], smugglers (high-ranking, as it seems that attempts at keeping the purchases of fine clothing limited to British manufacture made ladies turn very resourceful), actresses, jockeys, astronomers (Caroline Herschel’s story is fascinating), ladies taking to the air in balloons (I have a book on the subject, and I can’t wait to read it), a female bonesetter, a con woman… There are plenty of men as well, of course, and curious episodes, like that of the Brighton’s travelling windmill, or Queen Anne’s zebra, and some darker happenings, like the assassination attempts on the king’s life, or the trade in dead bodies the resurrection men were involved in.
The authors, who are clearly experts in the subject (and, as mentioned above, have a blog called All Things Georgian, as well), write in a conversational style, and as we read the chapters, it feels as if they were talking about people they knew personally (the same way others would talk about their relatives, or current celebrities), adding titbits of information and connections to other relevant characters as they spin their tale.
I recommend this book to anybody interested in the Georgian era, even if the interest is only in passing. The illustrations are an added bonus, and the stories are so varied that most readers will find topics to their liking that will merit further research. This is not a book that will solve the doubts of people wanting to learn everything there is about the Georgian period, but it is a great appetizer, and will provide hours of entertainment and plenty of material for conversation. Don’t forget to check the authors’ other books if you are interested in the subject.

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the events and achievements of the Georgian era.

I really like how this book was made up of short stories and beautiful images, it really made it all the more informative, especially on the women of the era with some of their accomplishments.

I think there’s just enough information to keep you intrigued but not so much that you feel bombarded with it which is always a winning combination for non-fiction books!

Thank you Pen and Sword Books for the free review copy.

[lifelonghistorylover · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Things Georgian: Tales from the Long Eighteenth Century is full of all the drama, scandal, and gossip that I love about the long eighteenth-century. We meet a whole host of colourful characters in this superb book by Joanne Major and Sarah Murden, which is based on the author’s popular blog. It is roughly set out in chronological order of the Georgian Era. The book is packed with over 100 colour images of paintings and illustrations (many full page) which really help immerse you in the time period.

The fascinating tales in this book feature people from all walks of life and a lot of important topics are highlighted, such as: mental health, how women were treated in comparison to men, and how those that were perceived differently from the rest of society were put on exhibition. Tales include Sarah Wallen - a bonesetter, Sir Joseph Banks the lothario, the story of Lady Wilbrahammon - who managed to fool people into believing she was a gentlewoman and duped them into giving her money. We also briefly journey over to Versailles, to visit the ill-fated Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Other stories I particularly enjoyed were The Norwich Nymph: A Female Jockey, and the tragic story of Caroline Crachami: The Sicilian Fairy. I hadn’t previously heard of a lot of the tales in this book, which was refreshing. It was lovely to learn about new people from one of my favourite eras. Each story is relatively short, which makes it the perfect book to dip in and out of. I enjoyed reading them at the end of each day!

I can imagine that if you weren’t already enthralled by the 18th century, you certainly would be after reading this book! A lot of these people and their stories may otherwise have been lost to history and forgotten forever if Joanne and Sarah hadn’t included them in All Things Georgian: Tales from the Long Eighteenth Century. This book was an absolute joy to read. Pen and Sword books are always beautiful and of excellent quality.

*Gifted in exchange for an honest review!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This long-awaited ‘book of the blog’ by Joanne Major and Sarah Murden focuses on the human foibles and astonishing life stories of a selection of 18th-century people. The writing duo, who are a major presence in the online Georgian world (their website is heading for a million hits and they command a combined Twitter following of 8,000), describe themselves as ‘Super Sleuths who blog about anything and everything to do with the Georgian Era’. If there is something to find out, any nugget of interesting information, they will winkle it out. Their other hat is ‘Genealogists’ so they are able to dig deep into the family backgrounds of their subjects.

Here you will find the famous – the Prince Regent makes several appearances in the micro-biographies – and those who have since fallen into obscurity. Thank you, Joanne and Sarah, for telling me about Elizabeth Calloway, who was prosecuted for arson when her brandy-shop-cum-lodging-house in Cecil Court, off St Martin’s Lane, caught fire; the zebra who became a wedding present to Queen Charlotte; the imposter ‘Lady Wilbrahammon’; Caroline Herschel, astronomer; the former ploughboy John Streeter, whose windmill once stood on the seafront near Regency Square. I loved them all.

For this new book the authors have leant towards the stories of women (their previous three titles have been biographies of women), but not to the exclusion of men. But even here, the women take centre stage. The chapter on Georgian botanist (and undeniable hottie) Sir Joseph Banks looks at the string of broken hearts he left in his wake before he settled down into marriage. The reputation of William Millard, the former superintendent of the anatomy theatre at St Thomas’s Hospital found in possession of a female corpse and sent to prison for bodysnatching, was defended by his widow Ann, who alleged a conspiracy. As a writer about women, I am all for this. Women and their lives, whether extraordinary as many in this book or mundane, have for too long been disregarded. This book goes some way to levelling things up.

This is a good-size hardback (16.5 x 24cm) with over 100 stunning full-colour illustrations, many of them full-page. I particularly loved the depiction of a fleet of oxen moving the abovementioned windmill to its new home, William Herschel’s telescopes, as well as the many caricatures and portraits. As on the blog, the writing style is flowing, jaunty and fun, a little arch. It’s a very easy and enjoyable read, and the book would make a fantastic gift for lovers of popular history.

Pen & Sword provided me with a review copy of this book, for which I thank them.

[Kathleen Van Lierop · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Twitter, I already follow Joanne Major and Sarah Murden for years.
They are the creators of the wonderful blog: AllThingsGeorgian

I was very willing to read "All Things Georgian" and luckily the book was available
as eBook on the Kobo reader.

As a royal history lover, I really enjoyed the book very much. It was written very
fluently in clear chapters and chronological as well (which is important for me).

So, don't hesitate to buy and to read this excellent book! I give it a 5 star rating
because due to interesting people and subjects, the layout of the book and their
fantastic writing style.

More review @ https://mycrazylifefullwithbooks.blog...

[Annette Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter is a remarkable window on slice of life during the Georgian Era. You'll meet an array of women who lived fascinating lives including a female jockey known as the 'Norwich Nymph' and 'Crazy Sally', the bonesetter. You'll learn about the macabre world of the resurrection men who sold cadavers to medical students, attempts on the king's life and scientific developments in astronomy and human flight which make interesting reading.
Lavishly illustrated in full colour with contemporary portraits and landscapes, many from the Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. A helpful timeline of significant events in the 'Long Eighteenth-Century', from 1714 and 1837 is included.

[Dorothy Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the title, All Things Georgian, I expected to read more than royal gossip about the four King Georges, so I was disappointed. However, the many photographs of royal gowns and homes made this book worth reading. The pages of photographs exceeded the number of pages of text, so it was a quick read.

[Emma Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into this time in history. lots of mini stories that take you through the decades.
Lots of variety which makes for fascinating reading.
Lots of images really enhance this reader experience too.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing tales focused primarily on the upper classes. Not much here to indicate that the lower classes ever did anything interesting.Still, it is gorgeously illustrated in full color with portraits of both men and women, and there are extensive notes and lists of sources.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and entertaining collection of the more bohemian, odd and scandalous parts of Georgian life.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fascinating series of tales from the Georgian era, supplemented by colourful pictures. Enjoyed it very much!

[Amy Doolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of stories