James Melton's lucid and accessible 2001 study examines the rise of 'the public' in eighteenth-century Europe. A work of comparative synthesis focusing on England, France and the German-speaking territories, this was the first book-length, critical reassessment of what Habermas termed the 'bourgeois public sphere'. During the Enlightenment the Public assumed a new significance as governments came to recognise the power of public opinion in political life; the expansion of print culture created new reading publics and transformed how and what people read; authors and authorship acquired new status, while the growth of commercialized theatres transferred monopoly over the stage from the court to the audience; salons, coffeehouses, taverns and Masonic lodges fostered new practices of sociability. Spanning a variety of disciplines, this important addition to the New Approaches in European History series will be of great interest to students of social and political history, literary studies, political theory, and the history of women.
The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment Europe
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'Melton's useful new book traces the explosion of public institutions in eighteenth-century England, France and the Germanies … a rousing and touchingly old-fashioned defence of formal representative institutions.' JES
' … among the most readable books on Europe's ancien régime to have been published in recent times. Melton is notably thoughtful and deeply considered.' The International History Review
'The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment Europe is a well-written and coherent synthesis of Habermas' argument in the French, English and German contexts and is grounded in an impressive body of international, mainly Anglo-Saxon scholarship … it will certainly be of vital interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students …'. Europa
' … among the most readable books on Europe's ancien régime to have been published in recent times. Melton is notably thoughtful and deeply considered.' The International History Review
'The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment Europe is a well-written and coherent synthesis of Habermas' argument in the French, English and German contexts and is grounded in an impressive body of international, mainly Anglo-Saxon scholarship … it will certainly be of vital interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students …'. Europa
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Part of the New Approaches to European History series, this 2001 title provides an inter-disciplinary study of the rise of 'the public' in eighteenth-century Europe. James Melton's lucid and accessible account will be of interest to students of social and political history, literary studies, political theory, and the history of women.
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"For a long time, and especially since the beginning of this century, there has been no country where more has been written about political affairs than England." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
"For a long time, and especially since the beginning of this century, there has been no country where more has been written about political affairs than England." Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Well written overview of the public sphere in 18th century Europe
25 Jan 2011
By S. Smith-Peter
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is a very clearly written book that gives an overview of the development of the public sphere in 18th century Britain, France and the Germanies. Beginning with a perceptive overview of Habermas' work on the public sphere, he then goes on to give a political historical overview of Britain and France during the 18th century. The British section was of particular interest to me, as I'd never read a clearer exposition of the topic. Then there are thematic chapters on reading publics, including a discussion of literacy, libraries, and novels. The other chapters deal with authors, theater, salons, coffeehouses and taverns, and freemasonry. The role of women is brought in throughout, as one of his arguments is that women were part of the public sphere, albeit all from the educated classes. At the end of each chapter is a very useful list for further reading. The author also knows French and German and is up on the literature. This is an excellent introduction to the topic. Anyone working on this subject would do well to read the book. It could also be used for undergraduate or graduate classes in the humanities.
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