The Georgian Gentleman

by Michael Brander

Volume 1 The Making of THE GEORGIAN GENTLEMAN Michael Brander penetrates the much romanticised era of the Georgian Gentleman showing how he really lived. It was a time of peaceful agricultural growth at home and of lengthy wars abroad, the start of an overseas Empire as British merchants seized commercial opportunities backed by naval supremacy. It was a period of balls and masques, of refinement, grace, moderation and scholarship, of drunkenness, gaming, duelling and folly, of strong odours, flickering candlelight, dirt and disease. It saw the development of the canal system and of regular stage coach services with steadily improving high roads resulting in faster and more reliable communication, while a network of small ports and harbours round the coast plied a busy, sometimes illicit, trade. Steam power and the first railways heralded the end of the period. The reality of the life of a gentleman of the day is shown, often in his own vivid phraseology, depicting his childhood, his education and travels, the clothes he wore, his pastimes, hunting, shooting, gaming, his clubs and entertainments, his wagers, wenching, debts and duels, his servants, sanitation and diet, the financial tightropes, the pretences and aspirations, as well as the ailments and the physicians, either of which only the hale and hearty could survive. Water was generally not fit to drink unless mixed with ale or wine, but Spas for taking the waters were popular. This is a vibrating picture of a colourful part of social history, the start of the saga of the English Gentleman. Michael Brander is an M.A. Hist/Econ (hons) Cantab. He was born in Edinburgh and has written over fifty books on social and military history, biography, travel, horses, dogs and whisky (and contributed to a hilarious cook-book by his wife, Evelyn), almost all published in the USA. As one reviewer put it he writes entertainingly and very readably, with remarkably wide ranging research, and knows a good anecdote when he sees one.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Elliot A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of my ongoing research in preparation for my graduate thesis.

Even though my research focuses on women in the Georgian era, I thought it might be beneficial to learn a bit about the male side of things as well. There might be useful information that could help me along the way during my analysis of Austen’s works.

Unfortunately, I had no such luck, which truthfully frustrated me. Actually, that is not quite true. There was one point the author makes that could help me with my argument. So, I should make sure I make a note of it before I forget about it, which happens a lot these days.

The book itself was well written and was very informative. It had a clear structure that took the reader from the birth of an infant boy all the way to the Georgian man’s death, explaining and describing each milestone and life chapter along the way.

Overall, there was certainly nothing wrong with the book, it just happened to focus on the man instead of the woman. I wish there existed the equivalent for the Georgian lady. It was still an interesting read and I would suggest it.

ElliotScribbles

[Zuzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brander in his book covers the time period between 1714 and 1830. He divides the life of a typical Georgian gentleman into ten thematic chapters:
1/ Birth, Childhood and Upbringing
2/ School, University and Grand Tour
3/ Clothing, Fashion and Taste
4/ Cooking, Eating and Drinking
5/ Health, Disease and Treatment
6/ Religion, Fears and Tribulations
7/ Morals, Diversions and Frolics
8/ Travel, Inns and Hazards
9/ Sport, Wagers and Duels
10/ Royal gentlemen, Rogues and Others

Brander relies heavily on contemporary sources (diaries, letters, and memoirs) to bring this world to life. Among these, he draws most deeply from lesser-known works: the Purefoy Letters, John Knyveton’s diaries (which are controversial), Colonel John Byng’s travel journals through England and Wales, and François de La Rochefoucauld’s 1784 impressions of England as a curious French aristocrat.

Henry Purefoy, of Shalstone Manor (1697 - 1762) stands in for a typical obscure country gentleman. Many of his family letters have been preserved which together with their bills, provide a revealing picture of the early part of the century. The 'Purefoy Letters', a detailed catalogue of the everyday lives of the inhabitants of the Shalstone village and surrounding area as seen through the eyes of Elizabeth Purefoy and her bachelor son Henry during the period 1735-1753, were published in 1973.

"Henry Purefoy's letters to tradesmen were a curious mixture of business, gossip, friendliness, cajolery and hauteur perhaps because he lived his entire life under the domination of the powerful personality of his mother." His "extraordinarily erratic spelling" adds to the charm and amusement.

A little taste, from Henry Purefoy's letter ordering clothes for himself and his mother from his tailor in London, Mr John Boys (or Boyce - Henry changes his spelling of the name throughout the letter):
"...The Gold laced wastcoat you made mee last year has done you no credit in the making, it gapes so intolerably before at the bottom when I button it at ye wastbone of my breetches & everybody takes notice of it. As to my size I am partly the same bignesse as I was when in Town last, but you made the last cloths a little too straight....
My mother's & my service & respect waits on you & Mrs Boyce & I am Your humble servt. H.P.
P.S. I desire I may have my cloaths as soon as possible & send your Bill with them & a letter by the post so that they may not lie at ye Carriers."

John Knyveton (1729 - 1809)
John Knyveton's personal diaries portraying his naval career of a surgeon, his medical studies and his later career of a physician, are heavily quoted throughout Brander's book. It came to light in 2013 that they are most likely not authentic. There are three volumes of the Diaries of John Knyveton edited by Ernest Gray, published between 1937 and 1946, that are apparently based on the life of Thomas Denman (1733 – 1815), although they do not state this. The first volume has inaccuracies with regards to dates for some events but a quick analysis of the two later volumes reveals that Denman and Knyveton are the same person. Although some of the dates are incorrect, there are fewer inaccuracies than in the first volume. Thomas Denman was an English physician. After a career in naval medicine he made a considerable amount of money in midwifery.

John Byng, 5th Viscount Torrington (1743 – 1813), previously styled The Hon. John Byng for most of his lifetime (until 1812), was a British aristocrat and celebrated 18th-century diarist. Byng's fifteen extant diaries, covering the years 1781–94, describe his travels on horseback throughout England and Wales during twelve summers.

François XIII de La Rochefoucauld, 8th Duke of La Rochefoucauld (1765 – 1848) was a French aristocrat and writer.
Brander used excerpts from his travel memoir Mélanges sur l’Angleterre which has twice been translated into English: first in 1933 as A Frenchman in England, 1784 (translated by S.C. Roberts); and subsequently as A Frenchman's Year in Suffolk, 1784 (translated by Norman Scarfe).

Other sources peppered throughout include diaries or letters by more famous figures: Lord Chesterfield, Horace Walpole, George Selwyn, Thomas Creevey, C. F. Greville, James Boswell, Fanny Burney, and others.

I enjoyed the book as a series of vivid snapshots of Georgian gentlemen’s everyday experiences. If you’re seeking sweeping analysis, this isn’t it. But as a social history mosaic, The Georgian Gentleman offers genuine insight and color. 3.5 stars

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but very, very brief. A decent beginner book on this topic. The list of primary sources quoted is very disappointing though.