Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England

In her book "The Homes of Georgian England," Amanda Vickery explores the lives of people in Georgian England by examining the homes they lived in. She uses unusual sources such as upholsterers ledgers and burglary trials to reveal how houses and homes played a significant role in economic survival, social success, and political representation. Even modest homes became arenas of social campaign and exhibition.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 04 January 2019
\n Publisher: Yale University Press
\n

In her captivating exploration,Amanda Vickery delves into the private realms of Georgian England, unveiling the lives of the inhabitants who called these homes their own. With her trademark wit and vim, she introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, from the gentlewoman Anne Dormer residing in her stately Oxfordshire mansion to the bachelor clerk and future novelist Anthony Trollope occupying his dreary London lodgings, as well as the genteel spinsters maintaining appearances in two rooms adorned with yellow wallpaper, and the servants with only a locking box as their sole possession.

Vickery employs a range of ingenious sources, including upholsterers' ledgers, burglary trials, and other unconventional materials, to shed light on the profound roles of houses and homes in the economic survival, social success, and political representation of the long eighteenth century. Through the emergence of formal visiting practices, the proliferation of affordable ornamental furnishings, the commercial celebration of feminine artistry within the domestic sphere, and the currency of the language of taste, even modest homes transformed into vibrant arenas of social activism and exhibition.

This insightful work not only provides a window into the lives of the Georgian elite but also offers a broader perspective on the social and cultural dynamics of the era. Vickery's meticulous research and lively storytelling make for an engaging and enlightening journey into the past, offering valuable insights into the intricate connections between architecture, society, and the human experience.

\n Weight: 492g\n
Dimension: 197 x 146 x 31 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780300245721\n \n