Smell in Eighteenth-Century England: A Social Sense

During the 1670s to 1820s, England experienced a shift in how smell and the senses were perceived, challenging the equation of smell with disease. William Tullett's study reveals that it was a new recognition of smell's social-sociability and capacity to create atmospheres of uncomfortable intimacy that transformed the relationship between the senses and society.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 262 pages
\n Publication date: 13 August 2019
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press
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In England, a significant shift occurred in the perception of smell and the senses from the 1670s to the 1820s. The role of smell in advancing medical and scientific knowledge came under rigorous examination, and the association between smell and disease was actively challenged. However, a renewed fascination with the emotional and idiosyncratic aspects of smell granted odor a newfound influence in the sociable spaces of eighteenth-century England.

William Tullett, through a comprehensive exploration of various sources such as diaries, letters, sanitary records, satirical prints, consumer objects, and magazines, delves into how individuals and communities perceived the scents surrounding them. These sources encompass a wide range of odors, including paint, perfume, onions, and farts. By meticulously tracing these perceptions, Tullett challenges a prevailing narrative that suggests the medicalization and deodorization of English olfactory culture.

Rather, Tullett's study reveals that it was a newfound recognition of smell's social-sociability and its ability to create atmospheres of uncomfortable intimacy that transformed the relationship between the senses and society. This shift led to a reevaluation of smell's significance and its ability to shape experiences, influence behavior, and create social bonds.

The study of smell in eighteenth-century England offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between culture, society, and the senses. It challenges the notion that smell is solely a biological phenomenon and highlights its role as a cultural and social construct. By examining the ways in which individuals and communities perceived and interpreted odors, Tullett's work contributes to our understanding of the sensory experiences of past eras and their impact on human behavior and society.

\n Weight: 570g\n
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780198844136\n \n