- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (27 July 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141390077
- ISBN-13: 978-0141390079
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.6 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,445,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This amusing foray into 18th century literature is an entertaining tabloid biography of an age not unlike our own; men and women of fashion led their lives under the avid scrutiny of a public who had a sharp appetite for scandal and sensation. In the period between the so-called Age of Reason and the Romantic Revival - that which the author calls the Age of Scandal - aristocratic and privileged eccentrics flourished and the professional writer declined. Here we meet notorious persons such as the Marquis de Sade; the Duque of Queensberry, who dislocated London's milk supply; and the Countess of Kingston, who journeyed to Rome in the hope of seducing the Pope. There are also the lesser figures like the Misses Gunning, who were so beautiful that seven hundred people sat up all night to see them leave an inn. T.H.White contends that these cultivated and fortunate individuals, best represented by Horace Walpole, were Elizabethan in their natures, without the formality of Alexander Pope or the exaggerated raptures of William Wordsworth.
About the Author
Terrence Hanbury White (1906-1964) was born in Bombay. After a difficult upbringing in India and then Sussex, he studied English at Queen's College, Cambridge. During a year spent in Italy after contracting tuberculosis, White started work on his first novel, They Winter Abroad (finally published in 1932), returning to Cambridge where he continued to write, publishing Loved Helen and other poems (1929).
White was a troubled figure, prone to melancholy, guilt and drinking bouts, but a master stylist, with a sharp eye for social observation. After four years as Head of English at Stowe School, White resigned to write full-time, publishing The Sword and the Stone (1938), part one of an Arthurian tetralogy, which was adapted for the stage in 1959 as the musical Camelot. This was followed by the Walt Disney cartoon The Sword in the Stone (1963). White also wrote historical works, including The Age of Scandal (1950) and The Scandalmonger (1952).
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
T.H. White's book is a non-fiction description of the 18th century world of the "Haut Ton," of debutantes and Lords, told with charm and humour. This is what the society depicted in "regency romance" novels was actually like.
As Reay Tannahill's introduction puts it, this book paints a picture of late 18th century British society which is "outrageously partisan, appallingly opinionated, 100% politically incorrect, and highly entertaining from first to last."
The author is, or course, best known today for his novels about Merlin and King Arthur, such as The Once and Future King. However, this delightful little work, first published in 1950, is at least as worthy of being remembered. Imagine Quentin Letts with all the humour and none of the vindictiveness, and you have some idea of his approach to life.
To give you an picture of the chatty style of the book, White begins by bemoaning "the end of civilisation in England." By which he means a more egalitarian society, pointing out that when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge "the Master of a college was a fabulous being" who lived a life of surpassing luxury, but when he last stayed at the university he lunched with two masters of colleges and both had to help with the washing-up after the meal.
White's descriptions of the differences between society in the 18th and 20th centuries are entertaining as well as fascinating. After describing how much faster various activities were routinely carried out in his own day compared with two centuries before - "The 18th century managed to eat so much more than we do because it ate more slowly. It could drink more, by drinking all night" he concludes that
"It would be interesting to find out whether the pulse rate has gone up."
As White describes, the world of the aristocracy and the ton was a much smaller body than even the highest levels of society today. At the start of George III's reign there were only 174 peers (there were nearly a thousand when White was writing and rather more, including life peers, today.)
The book describes many of the most notorious and interesting characters and events of the 18th century: it stretches a little into the 19th, about as far as William IV, but mostly it concentrates on the reign of George III. Brummell is mentioned four times in the book, but usually as a source.
The chapter "A perfect tragedy" is one of the best accounts I have ever read of the circumstances leading up to the trial and execution of Admiral Byng, who was shot, as Voltaire put it, "pour encourager les autres." Other chapters cover the church, Doctor Johnson, schools, and the relationships between men and women, of which White wrote,
"The beauties who were the contemporaries of Walpole lived through romances of such intricacy and splendour that Hollywood in delirium could scarecely do them justice."
(In fact the film industry recently did have a fairly good attempt at one of the most extraordinary such stories with "The Duchess [DVD] [2008]" starring Kiera Knightley.)
If you've every wondered what the reality behind the novels of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer was like, or have considered trying to write a story set in that period yourself and are looking for somewhere to start your research, you will not do better than this book.
As Reay Tannahill's introduction puts it, this book paints a picture of late 18th century British society which is "outrageously partisan, appallingly opinionated, 100% politically incorrect, and highly entertaining from first to last."
The author is, or course, best known today for his novels about Merlin and King Arthur, such as The Once and Future King. However, this delightful little work, first published in 1950, is at least as worthy of being remembered. Imagine Quentin Letts with all the humour and none of the vindictiveness, and you have some idea of his approach to life.
To give you an picture of the chatty style of the book, White begins by bemoaning "the end of civilisation in England." By which he means a more egalitarian society, pointing out that when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge "the Master of a college was a fabulous being" who lived a life of surpassing luxury, but when he last stayed at the university he lunched with two masters of colleges and both had to help with the washing-up after the meal.
White's descriptions of the differences between society in the 18th and 20th centuries are entertaining as well as fascinating. After describing how much faster various activities were routinely carried out in his own day compared with two centuries before - "The 18th century managed to eat so much more than we do because it ate more slowly. It could drink more, by drinking all night" he concludes that
"It would be interesting to find out whether the pulse rate has gone up."
As White describes, the world of the aristocracy and the ton was a much smaller body than even the highest levels of society today. At the start of George III's reign there were only 174 peers (there were nearly a thousand when White was writing and rather more, including life peers, today.)
The book describes many of the most notorious and interesting characters and events of the 18th century: it stretches a little into the 19th, about as far as William IV, but mostly it concentrates on the reign of George III. Brummell is mentioned four times in the book, but usually as a source.
The chapter "A perfect tragedy" is one of the best accounts I have ever read of the circumstances leading up to the trial and execution of Admiral Byng, who was shot, as Voltaire put it, "pour encourager les autres." Other chapters cover the church, Doctor Johnson, schools, and the relationships between men and women, of which White wrote,
"The beauties who were the contemporaries of Walpole lived through romances of such intricacy and splendour that Hollywood in delirium could scarecely do them justice."
(In fact the film industry recently did have a fairly good attempt at one of the most extraordinary such stories with "The Duchess [DVD] [2008]" starring Kiera Knightley.)
If you've every wondered what the reality behind the novels of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer was like, or have considered trying to write a story set in that period yourself and are looking for somewhere to start your research, you will not do better than this book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Love regency romances? Read about the real word of the Ton
7 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
T.H. White's book is a non-fiction description of the 18th century world of the "Haut Ton," of debutantes and Lords, told with charm and humour.
As Reay Tannahill's introduction to the 1993 Folio edition of this book says, it paints a picture of 18th century British society which is "outrageously partisan, appallingly opinionated, 100% politically incorrect, and highly entertaining from first to last."
The author is, or course, best remembered today for his novels about Merlin and King Arthur, but this delightful little work, first published in 1950, is at least as worthy of being remembered. Imagine Quentin Letts with all the humour and none of the vindictiveness, and you have some idea of his approach to life.
To give you a picture of the chatty style of the book, White begins by bemoaning "the end of civilisation in England" which statement he justifies by pointing out that when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge "the Master of a college was a fabulous being" who lived a life of surpassing luxury, but when he last stayed at the university he lunched with two masters of colleges and both had to help with the washing-up after the meal.
His descriptions of the differences between society in the 18th and 20th centuries are entertaining as well as fascinating. After describing how much faster various activities were routinely carried out in his own day compared with two centuries before - "The 18th century managed to eat so much more than we do because it ate more slowly. It could drink more, by drinking all night" he concludes that
"It would be interesting to find out whether the pulse rate has gone up."
As White describes, the world of the aristocracy and the ton was a much smaller body than even the highest levels of society today. At the start of George III's reign there were only 174 peers (there were nearly a thousand when White was writing and rather more, including life peers, today.)
The book describes many of the most notorious and interesting characters and events of the 18th century: it stretches a little into the 19th, about as far as William IV, but mostly it concentrates on the reign of George III. Brummell is mentioned four times in the book, but usually as a source. The chapter "A perfect tragedy" is one of the best accounts I have ever read of the circumstances leading up to the trial and execution of Admiral Byng, who was shot, as Voltaire put it, "pour encourager les autres." Other chapters cover the church, Doctor Johnson, schools, and the relationships between men and women, of which White wrote,
"The beauties who were the contemporaries of Walpole lived through romances of such intricacy and splendour that Hollywood in delirium could scarecely do them justice."
(though they recently had a good attempt at one of the most extraordinary such stories with "The Duchess [DVD] [2008]" starring Kiera Knightley.)
If you've every wondered what the reality behind the novels of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer was like, or have considered trying to write a story set in that period yourself and are looking for somewhere to start your research, you will not do better than this book.
As Reay Tannahill's introduction to the 1993 Folio edition of this book says, it paints a picture of 18th century British society which is "outrageously partisan, appallingly opinionated, 100% politically incorrect, and highly entertaining from first to last."
The author is, or course, best remembered today for his novels about Merlin and King Arthur, but this delightful little work, first published in 1950, is at least as worthy of being remembered. Imagine Quentin Letts with all the humour and none of the vindictiveness, and you have some idea of his approach to life.
To give you a picture of the chatty style of the book, White begins by bemoaning "the end of civilisation in England" which statement he justifies by pointing out that when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge "the Master of a college was a fabulous being" who lived a life of surpassing luxury, but when he last stayed at the university he lunched with two masters of colleges and both had to help with the washing-up after the meal.
His descriptions of the differences between society in the 18th and 20th centuries are entertaining as well as fascinating. After describing how much faster various activities were routinely carried out in his own day compared with two centuries before - "The 18th century managed to eat so much more than we do because it ate more slowly. It could drink more, by drinking all night" he concludes that
"It would be interesting to find out whether the pulse rate has gone up."
As White describes, the world of the aristocracy and the ton was a much smaller body than even the highest levels of society today. At the start of George III's reign there were only 174 peers (there were nearly a thousand when White was writing and rather more, including life peers, today.)
The book describes many of the most notorious and interesting characters and events of the 18th century: it stretches a little into the 19th, about as far as William IV, but mostly it concentrates on the reign of George III. Brummell is mentioned four times in the book, but usually as a source. The chapter "A perfect tragedy" is one of the best accounts I have ever read of the circumstances leading up to the trial and execution of Admiral Byng, who was shot, as Voltaire put it, "pour encourager les autres." Other chapters cover the church, Doctor Johnson, schools, and the relationships between men and women, of which White wrote,
"The beauties who were the contemporaries of Walpole lived through romances of such intricacy and splendour that Hollywood in delirium could scarecely do them justice."
(though they recently had a good attempt at one of the most extraordinary such stories with "The Duchess [DVD] [2008]" starring Kiera Knightley.)
If you've every wondered what the reality behind the novels of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer was like, or have considered trying to write a story set in that period yourself and are looking for somewhere to start your research, you will not do better than this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
An Entertaining History of Eighteenth Century England
14 Sep 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book provides a highly amusing view of eighteenth century England, specifically the period immediately following the Augustan Age, i.e., the decades between the death of Alexander Pope (1744) and the publication of Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" (1798). It is both educational and very funny.
If you're interested in purchasing a hardback version, consider the beautifully bound one published by the Folio Society in 1993.
If you're interested in purchasing a hardback version, consider the beautifully bound one published by the Folio Society in 1993.
An Entertaining View of 18th Century England
14 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback
This book provides a highly amusing view of eighteenth century England, specifically the period immediately following the Augustan Age, i.e., the decades between the death of Alexander Pope (1744) and the publication of Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" (1798). It is both educational and very funny.
If you're interested in purchasing a hardback version, consider the beautifully bound one published by the Folio Society in 1993.
If you're interested in purchasing a hardback version, consider the beautifully bound one published by the Folio Society in 1993.
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