Age of Enlightenment

Neat links...

2006-08-29T12:43:00.000-04:00

Through EarMarks in Early Modern Culture, I found a great post at Early Modern Notes - a round-up of various blog entries covering the early modern period.

Enjoy!!

Teresa

The British Housewife - Book Review

2006-08-26T19:56:00.000-04:00

The British Housewife Cookery-books, Cooking and Society in 18th-century Britain by Gilly Lehmann

One of my tasks I do is collect recipes. I cut them out of the newspaper, magazines, etc. and organize them in a way they can be used.

This is an old practice and Gilly Lehmann traces the practice of keeping “receipt” books to the publication of full-blown cookbooks in the 18th century in The British Housewife: Cookery Books, Cooking and Society in Eighteenth-Century Britain.

Lehmann shows how the initial cookbooks of the 17th century were merely collections of recipes of ladies. These manuscripts were published in pretty much the form they were submitted in. The true cookbook emerged with the growing popularity of court cooking. The upper-class wanted to emulate the table of royalty and cookbooks were published accordingly.

Throughout the 18th century, the cookbook changes along with society. The first books were created with the mistress of the house in mind. She would instruct her cooks on how to prepare the recipes. The dishes were heavily influenced by the French. Also, the books contained information on creating medicines and other household tips. The books evolved and soon stressed economics and pressed the simplicity of the English dishes. As the century progressed and literacy rates increased, the books were written for the servant class so they could improve their skills. Ladies, even middle class ones, had other, more important things to do than bother with the kitchen and menu planning. Cookery books became more and more geared towards professional women-women who cooked for a living. There would still be a few sections geared towards the mistress of the house, bills of fare to help a young mistress plan a party and such.

The British Housewife follows how cooking styles changed along with society. The books were primarily written by women for women. They ran the gamut of price. There were books written by men, but they were geared towards male cooks. The books followed the trends of food fashions. The French were considered the height of fashion in the beginning of the century but they were later scoffed at. What was served at the table said much about the person, beyond their wealth. French foods came to be equated with the very tops of society, running along political lines. Whigs ate French food. Tories ate the simple, solid English roasts and puddings. Although many of the books included French recipes, the authors themselves would denigrate the French style.

Table manners and presentation changed throughout the century as well and Lehmann includes an analysis in her book. From the ultra-formal style of the Restoration towards the simpler bourgeois manners at the end of the century, the food and manners were interconnected. Lehmann does a great job of following these trends, backing up her findings with primary sources.

Food has always defined society. Lehmann shows exactly how the 18th century ushered in the modern style of cooking. This book is wonderful for anyone interested in the 18th century. What was eaten and how it was presented is fascinating. How the elements of the table defined a person’s status and political leanings is interesting. Although her focus is more from a food historian’s interest, anyone with familiarity of the period will gain something.

This is definitely a scholarly book, not light reading. I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have a basic knowledge of the period, or actually, I don’t think a reader can appreciate it fully unless they have some background in the 18th century. The book isn’t difficult to read, but it was written with scholars in mind.

New resources!

2006-06-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

Yep, it's been a while since I posted here - sorry about that! Here are some cool resources I found recently:

If Art History is your thing, here is a comprehensive list of websites dedicated to eighteenth century art.

The Age of George III has a new home on the web. This site is a treasure trove for English history enthusiasts.

The theatre has always been big in France, learn all about eighteenth century French drama at the Theatre Database.

Looking for books to add to your already groaning bookshelves? Why not check out this new bio of artist Anglica Kauffman or Thomas Crow's revised study of artists during the French Revolution.

Is costume more your style? Hop on over to the Eighteenth Century Costume Gallery at The Met.

Enjoy! And I promise not to take so long between posts here :-)

Teresa

Currently Reading: Madame de Staël: An Extraordinary Life by Maria Fairweather

Books

2006-04-23T14:32:00.000-04:00

One thing I really despise is when I get a book recommendation and either can't find the book or it is so expensive I can't justify buying it. This happens quite often for the books I need for architecture and houses. Let me preface by saying I'm not generally looking for scholarly texts, for my purposes, I'm looking for picture books. Finding terms and definitions for furniture and architectural styles is pretty easy, but having a picture of it is another. I like having a picture to guide me, and not just a sketch or diagram. I want to see it in action as it were. Anyway, those kinds of books aren't cheap. But I've been lucky lately so I thought I'd share a couple of titles.

England's Thousand Best Houses by Simon Jenkins is a great book with a survey of, well, the best houses. I got it used for under $5. The English Country House: A Grand Tour by Gervase Jackson-Stops & James Pipkin is spectacular. Filled with big pictures and divided by rooms, it is so inspirational for writers when trying to create that perfect country manor. I think I paid about $7 for it. Last but not least is a little gem I found in a used bookstore. It's called Historic Houses, Castles & Gardens in Great Britain & Ireland. Mine was published in 1979 but it was published after that as well. I got mine for $2 at a used bookstore and I'm buying another one for $8 (my old one is falling apart and this newer one was published in 2001). While in itself not a research book, it is a guidebook divided by counties which gives you the basics of a property. It is easy enough to find the house on the Internet and get more information. While these books do not deal strictly with homes built in the 18th century, Georgian architecture is significantly represented.

Do you have any sources for great books at good prices? I do have a marvelous college library near me, but with having little ones around, its hard for me to go back and forth, so I do like to have some basic references. If anyone has a source for discount books on 18th century costume, I'd be thrilled. I can only check out Aileen Ribeiro's book so many times and I'm not willing to pay for that huge amount for it.

Happy Birthday, Mozart...

2006-01-27T08:34:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's Mozart's 250th birthday!! I just LOVE his music. Not that I ever did it justice while playing it *g*, but it's amazing to listen to and there's something for every mood. Must really dig out the Amadeus soundtrack.

My link of the day over at my writing blog will take you to Stephanie Cowell's site for her wonderful, wonderful book Marrying Mozart. I read it a couple of years ago for review and just fell in love with it. Even better, I got to meet her last year at the HNS conference in SLC.

Here are some more Mozart links :-)

CBC Radio Two's Mozart 250

Internet Public Library - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart at Carolina Classical Connection

Bio of Mozart at The Classical Music Archives

Enjoy!!

Teresa

Some links...

2006-01-20T10:10:00.000-05:00

At last, I'm updating this page :-) Thanks to Rene and Mel for posting over the last few months while I was distracted *g*.

Are you a fan of the art of the 18th century? If you are, visit this site:
ART HISTORY RESOURCES: Part 11 18th-Century Art

Is the history of the British Isles more your thing? For a brief outline of the Georgian period, stop by the BBC History site:
British Timeline - Georgians

What about the City of Lights - want to know more about Paris in the Early Modern period, then consult this bibliography:
The Early Modern City (1500-1800): France

If gardens are your thing, learn about 18th Century French Gardens

For those of you more interested in American Architecture of the 18th century, you'll find lots of links through the Digital Archive of American Architecture

Ok - I'm off to make a latte now. Enjoy the links :-) And I promise to pop in here more often, with more interesting observations and links about this fascinating time period.

Teresa

Y2K? Piece of Cake

2006-01-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Back in 1999, I remember my company had whole IT teams devoted to solving the Y2K issue.  Boy, what a cake walk compared to switching calendars.  I wonder at how modern business would deal with the sudden loss of eleven days.

The switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar has always confused me.  Calendars through the Ages explains the why’s of the change and the origins of the two calendars.   The site also has the text for the British Calendar Act of 1751.   Wikpedia has a good and thorough explanation although I admit it confused me.  I’m not much of one for astronomical terms.  I slept through astronomy in college.    What I did like about this site was its discussion about how Britain and American usage differs.    If you have a strong desire to convert the dates, I found a calculator created by the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Notes For British Calendar Act of 1751 For The Year 1752 goes into a more scholarly discussion about how the Act was put into play and gives an explanation about the text itself.  The Gregorian Calendar—History is a bit more lighthearted and has simpler way of explaining the situation.   April Fool's Day began to be recognized in 1752 because of the calendar change, so I suppose the inventors of the whoopee cushion and plastic spilled drinks should be grateful for the calendar change.

What problems this must have caused in Britain and the colonies is discussed briefly at this genealogy site.   Always in the mood for a riot, the change in the calendar riled the mobs of London.  And who the heck wants to be eleven days older?  Hence people changed their birth dates and started using the new style to rectify the difference.

Christmas in the 18th Century

2005-12-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

Before Christmas, I thought how fun it would be to write a romantic Christmas story which took place in the 18th century.  Bad idea.

I started my research and was, well, disappointed.  Christmas just wasn’t the holiday it is today.  Maybe that is a good thing as I look at the mounds of toys and cookies and the like.

The best source I found on the subject was from  The Official Website of Christmas in Williamsburg.  While it obviously focuses on the customs and traditions of Colonial America, it certainly reflects on the traditions brought from England.  THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS has some other interesting tidbits that span from the pre-Christian era to modern times that I found to be interesting.  For a look at France and French traditions, I found this site geared more to children but it does have some insight into the holidays: Christmas Traditions in France and in Canada : Home page.

The best sites I found for researching the holidays seemed gear to children.  I suppose it is not surprising.  I liked this site from a school in England: Christmas Traditions of England, Britain, UK.  Created by kids and geared towards them, it breaks the traditions down to the simplest explanations.

Riley's Farm

2005-11-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday I went with my daughter's class to Riley's Farm in Oak Glen, California. I really didn't know much about the place but it was a pleasant surprise. The older kids got to pretend they were fighting a battle from the War for Independence while the little ones went to the farm section.

I'm not quite sure how the colonial stuff worked, I was busy watching 5 & 6 year olds churn butter and dip candles, but it looked like they were having a blast. Some of the kids dressed up for the period. The farm hosts all sorts of colonial themed events all year round. I can't comment on the accuracy, but I think it is a great thing for families to experience a taste of another era. Anything that introduces kids to history in an entertaining manner is a good thing. I'm hoping to take my kids up there again for some of the historical events.

Things that go bump in the night....

2005-10-22T12:28:00.000-04:00

This time of year brings to mind ghosts, goblins, haunted houses and frights of all sorts. The 18th century had a similar fascination with the paranormal as can be seen with the popularity of the gothic novel.

The Gothic novel is a great site with a brief description of the genre and its roots, focusing on the popular writers of these novels. 17th & 18th Century Works: Toward a New Age has a short discussion about the emergence of the gothic in both literature and art in contrast to the rationalism of the era. If you are unfamiliar with your gothic terms, the Glossary of Literary Gothic Terms is a good site to start with.

One thing I didn’t realize in my research of architecture is that there was a gothic revival. When I think of 18th century architecture, I think of the classic Palladian designs, not the austerity of medieval period. Horace Walpole’s Strawberry Hill was his take on the gothic structure as discussed on the site Gothic Revival Architecture in England.

Back to literature, the gothic helped established the novel as a prominent part of the 18th century world. Many of the authors at the time were women and the books they wrote appealed to women. Most of these authors have been ignored and their accomplishments forgotten. Hmm, almost a parallel with another modern day genre which is primarily written by and for women.

Anyway, I think these early novels can be credited with our current fascination with horror and the paranormal. I’m sure as the Age of Reason dispersed the mysteries and superstitions of the dark ages, the need to express fear needed other outlets. Like us, as less and less of the world’s workings became explainable, our need for magic and the extraordinary finds another outlet.

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette

2005-10-03T09:45:00.000-04:00

I haven't read this book yet, but I intend to. Looks great.

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette.

Carolly Erickson is a noted historical biographer, so it should be a great read.

Check it out here:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=kr4lOj6BXz&endeca=1&isbn=0312337086&itm=1

A cool new resource...

2005-09-30T10:08:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Spectator's Coffeehouse (this link courtesy of 18th Century Reading Room) - a site for listing online resources for the 18th Century. And guess what? We're included :-) Yep, Age of Englightenment appears on her list of resources. Cool, huh?

Teresa

Currently Reading: Eighteenth Century Furniture - Centuries of Style series
Also Currently Reading: Still in my Heart by Kathryn Smith

A cool glossary for those writing American Historicals...

2005-09-22T10:36:00.000-04:00

It's at the Colonial Williamsburg site - a rich resource with tons of great information.

Historical Glossary

If this period interests you, take some time to explore this site.

Teresa

Some cool finds at the U Mich site and more...

2005-09-21T10:19:00.000-04:00

Those of you familiar with the amazing Eighteenth Century England site at U Mich may already have found these student projects, but I hadn't seen them yet. Came across them while doing research for my ms yesterday:

Make Your Way as a Woman in Eighteenth Century England. It's really cool, because you make choices at each stage and encounter different circumstances.

Women's history is obviously popular - one of the 2002 projects was called Rebel: The Eighteenth Century Woman - a magazine style presentation in which you can take a quiz to rate your promiscuity, read about female entrepreneurs and hear first hand from a woman pirate.

While surfing the net I also found another set of links for the period - this one on a site about Jonathon Swift's Gulliver's Travels (not a book I particularly enjoyed, btw). The site is hosted by Lee Jaffe and, for those of you who liked GT, you can read it there :-) It hasn't been updated in a while, so all the links might not work, but it's still a rich resource.

There's also a Dictionary, which lists people/words from the period. Very useful.

Enjoy!

Teresa

Something a little different

2005-09-04T10:26:00.000-04:00

Here is something I found. It’s a little different but it is something you can listen to while writing and gave me some other sources if I need them. Eat Feed - Georgian England is a podcast with an interview with food historian Gilly Lehmann. She talks about the difference in foods from the 18th century to now and spends a great deal of time about the gender of cooks and cookbook authors of the time. I guess cookbooks were all the rage during parts of the 18th century in England. Anyway, this is a pretty interesting podcast although it does kind of go on after awhile. But if you listen, Lehmann mentions several other cooks and writers like Hannah Glasse who can lead you to other great sources.

More 18th C Resources

2005-08-18T09:13:00.000-04:00

I listed these over at my research blog the other day, but figured I should post them here too!

Jack Lynch's 18th Century Resources

List of books on the period available from Pickering and Chatto.

List of 18th C Events at What Happened What Year

History 1700s

Eighteenth Century Resources

Teresa

The Georgian Index

2005-07-27T13:58:00.000-04:00

I have gone to this website several times for information and it hasn't failed me yet. Wonderful collection of Georgian resources. In particular, I like the section on London streets, parks, and gardens, and businesses. It's wonderful for research.

The Georgian Index

And the Bride Wore...hmmmm

2005-07-26T10:05:00.000-04:00

So I am near to the portion of my story where the hero and heroine are going to get married. I've been researching the topic online and boy, there are a lot of conflicting statements. One thing to avoid, I found, are wedding sites. I'm not sure where they get their info, but they all seem to conflict with each other. But here are a couple I found pretty handy for an English wedding.

Marriage in the 18th Century talks a bit about the concept of marriage in the era. Later on through the pages it does get into specifics. The second site, The English Bride is a breezy, easily-read site that is fun and informative.

The one thing I cannot find is the place of the wedding ring. They were considered essential in Church of England marriage, but there seems to be some indecision if they were part of the ceremony or given sometime afterward. A little thing, really, but I wish I had a concrete answer. If anyone has a source, let me know.

Maps of London

2005-07-19T09:50:00.000-04:00

I've recently started a historical which takes place in mid-18th century London, so I should be posting a few links as I go along in my research.

My heroine recently had to travel from her semi-fashionable neighborhood to Seven Dials and from Seven Dials to Fleet Street. My hero had to go from Fleet Street to the riverfront.

I like to "see" where my characters are going on a map. Luckily, there are several maps online. Here are a couple that I've used for this WIP:

LONDON, WESTMINSTER AND SOUTHWARK BY JOHN ROCQUE 1746. This is a wonderfully detailed map, maybe a little too detailed. If you know the street you are looking for, this will take you right to it. However, it is a little tougher to trace your steps.

Greenwood's Map of London 1827 is a little later than the period, but it is easier to use and most of the main streets hadn't changed. I had an easier time tracing my characters' routes.

Spying in the Revolutionary War

2005-07-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

In grad school, I took a class on the American Revolution and loved it. I even wanted to pursue my MA in this direction. Unfortunately, we didn't have any specialists in this field, so I had to choose something else. But I hope to dig into my books again someday and write a novel set during this time period.

And as I love espionage, I found this terrific link.

http://cia.gov/cia/publications/warindep/intro.shtml

Happy Bastille Day!!!

2005-07-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

Today France celebrates it's National Day. Felicitations!!!

Teresa

[Currently listening to: Book of Days - Enya - Shepherd Moons (02:56)]

La Couturiere Parisienne

2005-07-11T18:07:00.000-04:00

I've changed computers so much lately I'm having a hard time finding all of my bookmarks. They have been scattered to the wind. I've been searching for this one and wanted to share it. La Couturiere Parisienne is a wonderful site where the author has used art to illustrate fashion. I have given the bookmark for the section on the 1700's but the site encompasses much more. Make sure you read her guided tours on fashion. Really an enjoyable site.

A cool post over at Early Modern Notes

2005-07-06T09:31:00.000-04:00

This is really interesting, with lots of good links:

Social History of Early Modern Costume

From Sharon's main page I linked to Carnivalesque - a history blog carnival. Don't visit unless you have plenty of time to spare!!

Teresa

Yesterday's Purchases

2005-07-04T11:03:00.000-04:00

At a second-hand store in Kingston, I found three great books:

The French Revolution and the Poor by Alan Forrest
The Days of the French Revolution by Christopher Hibbert (this one has a really good glossary)
Culture and Society in France 1789-1848 by FWJ Hemmings

Could have bought a lot more, but I had to behave *g*.

Teresa

The London Mob

2005-06-29T18:38:00.000-04:00

You know, those 18th century London types knew how to party. Right now I'm reading The London Mob by Robert Shoemaker. There was so much social upheavel and very little methods of control, the lower classes of London ran amuck. This book studies the reasons behind and the activities of the London mob.

Shoemaker writes with an informality without giving up the scholarship. He peppers the text with primary sources and uses the illustrations to describe a situation. I'm enjoying the book very much.

2005-06-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

Quick post!...
Melissa - glad you enjoyed the article :-) And yes, it was neat meeting Sandra and getting to know her.

Ok - here are a couple more links:

Voice of the Shuttle - European History Resources
Class in the 18th Century - a bibliography

Teresa

2005-06-28T08:39:00.000-04:00

A wee bit o' BSP...
Not normally something I engage in, but... *g*

In October 2000 I interviewed Sandra Gulland for an article for Solander (magazine of The Historical Novel Society). She's a lovely person and we have met several times since. The HNS has the text of the article up at its website:

Living With Josephine

It appeared in the May 2001 issue of Solander :-)

Teresa

Josephine B.

2005-06-26T11:44:00.000-04:00

Tess had a link to Sandra Gulland's website on her blog today. If you haven't read Sandra's trilogy of books inspired by Josephine's life, you are in for a real treat. www.sandragulland.com

I've always had a fascination with Napoleon and Josephine. I suppose it originated from two sources. One, the ABC mini-series of "Napoleon and Josephine" and two, Rosalind Laker's Tree of Gold.

But I counted my blessings the day I found Sandra's trilogy in Barnes and Noble. I bought all three books and read all three in quick succession. They are wonderful at drawing you into the period, at exposing you to the daily lives of Josephine and Napoleon, their wants, desires, emotions, dreams, ambitions...

I started a novel set during Napoleon's reign in France and Napoleon and Josephine were actually main characters. I hope to return to it someday.

2005-06-25T10:14:00.000-04:00

Some more research links...
I did a quick search this morning and found some more great links for the period:

The Age of George III
The Age of Enlightenment in France
Syllabus for French Cultural History in the 18th Century at UNLV
Age of the Enlightenment - lecture by Dr. Gerhard Rempel

You can browse through more of Dr. Rempel's lectures on his Western Civilization II Lecture list.

Enjoy!!

Teresa :-)

My latest book purchase!!

2005-06-24T21:42:00.000-04:00

Blood Sisters: The French Revolution in Women's Memory by Marilyn Yalom. I bought it from Tricolor Books - Susanna has a great selection and amazing prices.

It's up next on my non-fiction reading list once I finish Pandora's Breeches.

While searching for the Yalom book, I found a link to this old history module at the University of Warwick:

Enlightenment and Revolutionary Paris: 1750-99

Those of you who share my interest in French history might find this an interesting place to browse :-)

Teresa

[Currently listening to: A Man And A Woman - U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (04:30)]

2005-06-18T10:43:00.000-04:00

I second Rene's recommendation of...
Through a Glass Darkly.

And would add Jo Beverley's Malloren series. Jo has some good historical info on her site, of interest to 18th C enthusiasts:

Female Georgian Costume
Male Georgian Costume
Georgian Military
Georgian Diary

She also lists some of her research sources and links.

Teresa

Through A Glass Darkly

2005-06-17T14:06:00.000-04:00

Through A Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen was a book that really pulled me into the era. Basically a soap opera, Koen blends history, culture and plot so well, I was totally captivated. She wrote a sequel, but others have told me not to bother, it might ruin my enjoyment of the first.

It is not available new, but I've seen it in plenty of used bookstores. While fool of detail, it is juicy enough to qualify as a beach read.

2005-06-17T13:10:00.000-04:00

Ooooh, Rosalind Laker's Tree of Gold
Yes! She definitely influenced me with both that book and To Dance with Kings (which spanned the reigns of Louis XIV-XVI, IIRC).

Melissa - I'd LOVE to read your essay. Sounds wonderful. Too bad it's no longer up at history1700s :-(

I just ordered Roy Porter's book on Eighteenth Century England!! Am looking forward to getting it.

Rene - thanks for mentioning those books! And I agree with you re The Old Bailey Online. It's fantastic.

Here are a couple of neat resources I found via the Humbul Humanities Hub:
The European Enlightenment
The Hannah Snell Homepage (she successfully masqueraded as a man in the British Navy)
William Hogarth and 18th-Century Print Culture
Overview of the French Revolution
18th Century at EyeWitness.com

Why I Adore the Eighteenth Century

2005-06-16T15:40:00.000-04:00

I've just popped in briefly to mention a book I thought might be of interest to others, but I haven't yet discussed why I love the eighteenth century.

If I stretch my memory back to my childhood, television and books influenced me. Television, you ask? Yes - the absolutely awful (to some people, although I liked the romance of it all) miniseries "Napoleon and Josephine." To this day, I adore Armande Assante and he is the model for the hero of my first book, appropriately entitled, Depths of Love.

The book that influenced me the most, however, was Rosalind Laker's Tree of Gold. Set during the early years of Napoleon's reign in France, it delves into the silk weaving industry and also takes you on a historical journey through Europe across battlefields. To this day, Tree of Gold influenced me to write and to delve into history.

I am particularly fascinated with the French Revolution. Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities made me cry because Sydney Carton sacrified his life for the woman he loved. In the midst of such turmoil, who could fail to cry over such a sacrifice?

In graduate school, I wrote a paper comparing and contrasting the women of the American and French Revolutions, something that has not yet been done. But I soon discovered why. It is an intensely difficult subject to comprehend. Social class played a very important role. The majority of the women who participated in the French Revolution were lower and middle class, not aristocrats. In America, we did not have aristocrats and thus, the difficulty in comparing the two is further complicated by trying to discern the social aspects of the two revolutions. But I did manage to find a home for my paper online at www.history1700s.com (although it's no longer up).

On a more normal level (I sometimes wonder if academics are normal, LOL!), I love the clothes, the manners, the music, the personalities...

Actually, it's kind of hard to define exactly why I love the eighteenth century. Maybe it's because the world imploded upon itself in so many ways. America declared its independence. A Corsican Upstart ruled the most powerful empire in the world. Borders changed. Fashions changed. (And oh how I love to study the history of fashion!). People changed.

Sigh...well, so this post is rather a mish-mash of thoughts and ideas about why I love the eighteenth century. But that's perhaps why I love it - the mish-mash of different ideas, concepts, beliefs, and attitudes prevalent at different points during this time period.

It's utterly fascinating.

Crime Time

2005-06-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

As fascinating as the glittering world of the 18th century aristocrat was, equally interesting is the seedy underworld. As London grew in population, so did its crime. The characters that populated the criminal world grew into larger than life celebrities. A couple of books that are great reading on the topic are both by Lucy Moore. First is Con Men and Cutpurses : Scenes from the Hogarthian Underworld. This book follows the criminal records of the time to explore the criminal underworld. Moore tries to use the cases to show the values and attitudes of the time. The other is The Thieves' Opera. This book is more biographical in nature, spending more time on the actual persons perpetrating the crimes.

Online, one of my favorite sites is The Proceedings of the Old Bailey. It has accounts of trials from 1674-1834. It's one of those sites that I easily get lost in. Really interesting stuff.

Mary Robinson

2005-06-13T19:15:00.000-04:00

Just received this in my History Book Club packet for this month.

Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson
by Paula Byrne.

Called the "Madonna of the eighteenth century." Looks to be good!

2005-06-13T17:05:00.000-04:00

I forgot to add my...
Link of the Day: Doing Research on the internet.

Teresa

2005-06-13T15:30:00.000-04:00

Oooh - this is a neat little page...
from a university seminar. A nice summary of Everday Life in the Eighteenth Century.

Teresa

2005-06-13T12:14:00.000-04:00

Melissa is here now too :-)
Melissa, another 18th C enthusiast, has arrived. Look for her postings in the near future.

Teresa

2005-06-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

Some additional links re Women during the Enlightenment...

Enfranchising Women: The Politics of Women's Suffrage in Europe 1789-1945 - Bibliography

18th Century Feminists: Mary Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges

Teresa

2005-06-13T09:18:00.000-04:00

Why the Eighteenth Century?
Some of you might be wondering why we find the eighteenth century so interesting. I can only speak for myself, but I think for me is because it was a vibrant and ever-changing period in history. Lots of movement, revolution, developments in art, architecture, literature etc.

It was a time when women had a measure of freedome. Not what many of US would consider freedom, but certainly more than their Victorian descendants. In the upper classes, marriages were arranged, but often once the heir and the spare had been successful brought forth, if the couple wasn't compatible they would lead separate lives.

Granted, women in the lower classes, while also have freedom, had to deal with poverty and feeding many, many mouths.

Hardly a surprise, then, that by the end of the century, Mary Wollstonecraft was advocating for women's rights in England with her Vindication of the Rights of Women, while Olympe de Gouges crafted a Declaration of the Rights of Women in 1791.

Women's history has always been of special interest to me, so now I think about it, maybe this is why I find the Age of Enlightenment so fascinating. I'm currently reading Pandora's Breeches: Women, Science and Power in the Enlightenment, by Patricia Fara, in which she explores the role women played in some of the great scientific discoveries of the period. The women I've met so far have proven to be intelligent, witty and brilliant in their ability to combine the traditional female roles of wife and mother, with that of scientist and writer.

Follow this with the upheaval of the French Revolution and the roles that women played there, is it really any wonder this era draws so many of us in and invites us to write about it?

Teresa

Delightful Reading

2005-06-12T10:40:00.000-04:00

I've always had a "thing" for the 18th century. What a tumultuous time in history, a century that brought great change in thought and science. And the clothes were so wonderful.

Since Teresa went with a couple of websites, I thought I would introduce a couple of books I find invaluable for understanding the period.

First is Roy Porter's English Society in the Eighteenth Century . This book is a hodge podge of what was going on in the century and why it was unique. It doesn't go into great depth on any one topic, however, it will perk you interest and gives you ideas on where to continue to research. Porter's style is informal and he does try to explain the concepts in a way a modern reader can understand. It is also apparent Porter loves his subject and when an author can convey their passion, it makes the book so much more fun to read.

Amanda Foreman conveys her admiration for her subject in Georgiana : Duchess of Devonshire. This book gives a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the century's most prominent and colorful personages. Through Georgiana's life, the reader gets a glimpse of society at the time and a woman's place in it.

I would recommend both of these books to anyone who is interested in the period. They make for great reading whether you want to write about the period or are just a history nut.

2005-06-12T10:04:00.000-04:00

Rene has joined me :-)...
Well, you can see that from the sidebar, but still - thanks, Rene, for joining me here. Looking forward to your input!

Teresa

2005-06-12T09:54:00.000-04:00

A couple of my favourite online sources...
for info on the 18th century contain a wealth of information.

First is Eighteenth Century England, based at the University of Michigan. Students from the English Department there pick a topic for study and post the essay to the website. The variety of information is astounding, ranging from English Fairs, to Banking, Coffee Houses, Crime, Food, Leisure etc. At present there are 54 projects on the site.

I've visited many of them and while the quality does vary, for the most part the work is solid. Illustrations abound and each project is well referenced, with footnotes and a bibliography. Also included is a set of research tips, an added bonus for those of us inclined to follow up and explore further.

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Next up is Eighteenth Century Resources, a site maintained by Jack Lynch at Rutgers University. He focusses on what is know as the long eighteenth century, spanning the mid-17th Century all the way to 1800 and even a little beyond. The resources are divided into categories such as Art, Architecture, Landscape Gardening, &c., History, Music, Science and Mathematics etc. There's even a link to a page listing other academics working on the same period.

Each category page has links to other websites. What's important here is each link is annotated, with a brief description and assessment of the site. Very important for a researcher.

And no description of this site would be complete without mention of the Chronology. Though still a work in progress, it's a treasure trove of detail for writers working on building a believable, historical world. Some years have more info than others, yet this in no way detracts from the overall value. Especially as it's indexed and, best of all FREE!

The academic world is extremely generous to researchers, making available a wealth of knowledge when it could just as easily be kept hidden on an intranet. For that, I'm extremely grateful.

So, there we are - hope you enjoy these sites and stay tuned for more!

Teresa

Welcome!

2005-06-10T10:28:00.000-04:00

I mentioned over on Melissa's blog that we should start a French Revolution blog, but that's a little too restrictive. The eighteenth century was a fascinating period. I'll be inviting people to join me here to discuss this era and provide research sources :-)

So stay tuned.

Teresa