Blanning's The Culture of Power and the Power of Culture is also brilliant for those with an interest in opera, haute culture, and censorship.. a comparative analysis of the Prussian, British and French states' responses to the proliferation of 'popular' i.e. non-royal cultural tastes in the C17th.
I read far fewer books than you and rarely complete a book I start. I devoured Jenny Uglow’s recent book about England during fhe Napoleonic wars however. A work of history that educates us by immersing us in the everyday sights, necessities, confrontations and opportunities of the age.
I really want to read that - I think I heard it mentioned on The Rest is History. Might buy a copy now actually... Have also heard v good things about her book on Hogarth
[dons horn-rimmed spectacles] A sliver, James, not a slither.
I have to say your view of the eighteenth century is a very male one. Could I make a plea for (a) Fanny Burney and (b) Stella Tillyard’ riveting Aristocrats?
Unfortunately I have always been quite poor at spelling. And yes you're right about the absence of women. I was aware of that when I published it but couldn't think of anyone to add! I haven't read either of the books you mention...
Jane Austen was a big fan of Burney. Evelina is her first - an epistolary novel and relatively short so a good place to start. Aristocrats is a group biography of the four daughters of the Duke of Richmond - political hostess, duchess who married her children’s tutor, philanthropic Irish chatelaine, and divorcee ex-flame of the Prince Regent.
Don't know if you've read it before, but Nathalie Olah's Bad Taste is extremely enjoyable / thought-provoking. A nice counterpoint / follow on from Perfection.
You should try Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon. Make you really appreciate how deeply weird the 18th century and enlightenment were, how blurry the lines between natural philosophy and mysticism were at times to those doing the living. Haters focus on some of the bad SNL sketches but he has as good an ear as anyone who ever wrote prose, experiencing him do to Stern, Swift and Johnson what Coltrane did to My Favourite Things brings me endless delight. The tales of Chef Armand and his Duck, the Lambton Worm and Gloucester cheese are perfect. Partly about the effects of 18th century thought on Newcastle and Durham, you’re the perfect reader.
Did you read an abridged version of Boswell’s Life of Johnson? I recall readings somewhere that you’d first picked it up in a charity shop but most editions seem to be unabridged and unhelpfully published in one volume.
I did - an old Penguin edition. Really good. I read half of the unabridged version years ago and gave up because of some the excessive bits on Dr J's piety etc
Thank you - several books for me to try. I feel.i.know much more about science in the late eighteenth century than poetry, though it's usually the other way round. Any suggestions for a way in to Dryden, Pope etc?
The Rhetorical World of Augustan Humanism, by Paul Fussell, is a great book that gives a master key to the central tropes that structured the worldviews, or as we now say, the imaginaries, of the great 18th c writers and thinkers. Lively and fascinating, it will give you possession of an entire culture: Great minds thought alike!
Blannings work is really good. While we are in the 18th century, the most influential book of the 18th century Telemachus by Fenelon deserves a mention. Also any Jonathan Swift.
I don’t think reading about the 18th century is complete without something of British naval power and its presence in the wars and peace of that century: N A M Rodger’s Command of the Ocean and The Wooden World being the obvious suggestions. The history begins another insight into literature as well
Blanning's The Culture of Power and the Power of Culture is also brilliant for those with an interest in opera, haute culture, and censorship.. a comparative analysis of the Prussian, British and French states' responses to the proliferation of 'popular' i.e. non-royal cultural tastes in the C17th.
Oh it sounds great - I'm such a fan of his. I recently bought his book The Triumph of Music but yet to get round to it...
I read far fewer books than you and rarely complete a book I start. I devoured Jenny Uglow’s recent book about England during fhe Napoleonic wars however. A work of history that educates us by immersing us in the everyday sights, necessities, confrontations and opportunities of the age.
I really want to read that - I think I heard it mentioned on The Rest is History. Might buy a copy now actually... Have also heard v good things about her book on Hogarth
Having just finished it, I can confirm that 'In These Times' is excellent.
This is a great post! I'd love to see more like it!
there will be more!
[dons horn-rimmed spectacles] A sliver, James, not a slither.
I have to say your view of the eighteenth century is a very male one. Could I make a plea for (a) Fanny Burney and (b) Stella Tillyard’ riveting Aristocrats?
Unfortunately I have always been quite poor at spelling. And yes you're right about the absence of women. I was aware of that when I published it but couldn't think of anyone to add! I haven't read either of the books you mention...
Jane Austen was a big fan of Burney. Evelina is her first - an epistolary novel and relatively short so a good place to start. Aristocrats is a group biography of the four daughters of the Duke of Richmond - political hostess, duchess who married her children’s tutor, philanthropic Irish chatelaine, and divorcee ex-flame of the Prince Regent.
Thanks for this James - am gonna settle down to the Caravaggio doc after dinnér
Don't know if you've read it before, but Nathalie Olah's Bad Taste is extremely enjoyable / thought-provoking. A nice counterpoint / follow on from Perfection.
I loved the Matthew Arnold. A great end to a wonderful post. Scholar Gypsy will be sought out soon.
You should try Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon. Make you really appreciate how deeply weird the 18th century and enlightenment were, how blurry the lines between natural philosophy and mysticism were at times to those doing the living. Haters focus on some of the bad SNL sketches but he has as good an ear as anyone who ever wrote prose, experiencing him do to Stern, Swift and Johnson what Coltrane did to My Favourite Things brings me endless delight. The tales of Chef Armand and his Duck, the Lambton Worm and Gloucester cheese are perfect. Partly about the effects of 18th century thought on Newcastle and Durham, you’re the perfect reader.
Thank you ... I've never got on with Pynchon but keep resolving to try again. Maybe this will be one...!
Did you read an abridged version of Boswell’s Life of Johnson? I recall readings somewhere that you’d first picked it up in a charity shop but most editions seem to be unabridged and unhelpfully published in one volume.
I did - an old Penguin edition. Really good. I read half of the unabridged version years ago and gave up because of some the excessive bits on Dr J's piety etc
I’m especially interested in the Keith Thomas book and I’m going to order it now
it's fantastic - let me know how you get on
Very interesting suggestions thank you James
Thank you - several books for me to try. I feel.i.know much more about science in the late eighteenth century than poetry, though it's usually the other way round. Any suggestions for a way in to Dryden, Pope etc?
I'm afraid I don't have any idea who to read on Dryden and Pope... I shall ask around a bit and see if anyone I know has thoughts
Keen for that list of books on the Romantic movement
The Rhetorical World of Augustan Humanism, by Paul Fussell, is a great book that gives a master key to the central tropes that structured the worldviews, or as we now say, the imaginaries, of the great 18th c writers and thinkers. Lively and fascinating, it will give you possession of an entire culture: Great minds thought alike!
Is that Paul Fussell of Great War in Modern Memory fame? If so really sounds great...
Blannings work is really good. While we are in the 18th century, the most influential book of the 18th century Telemachus by Fenelon deserves a mention. Also any Jonathan Swift.
I don’t think reading about the 18th century is complete without something of British naval power and its presence in the wars and peace of that century: N A M Rodger’s Command of the Ocean and The Wooden World being the obvious suggestions. The history begins another insight into literature as well
thank you!