
The Long Eighteenth Century
British Political and Social History, 1688-1832
Frank O'Gorman(Author)
Hodder Arnold (Publisher)
Published on 26. September 1997
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-0-340-56751-7 (ISBN)
Description
The 'long eighteenth century' in British history, the period from 1688 to 1832, defies easy characterisation. To examine its political and social history is to be struck by the complexity of its values and practices. Some of its features - the growth of towns, the demand for political, social and humanitarian reform, and the establishment of parliamentary government - anticipate the concerns of later generations and impress us with their familiarity. The huge inequalities of wealth, on the other hand, the destitution of the masses, and the harsh treatment of children are ills made remote by their sheer intensity and scale. Acknowledging the complexities, this study identifies the key thematic patterns that constitute much of the consistency of the period.
It examines the development of the internal structure of Britain and of a sense of British nationhood; the role of religion in the life of the state and of the people; the slow transition from a society of orders to a society based increasingly on class distinctions; the commercial and imperial expansion which contributed so much to the prosperity of British society; the growing role and status of Britain in Europe; and the development, albeit uneven, of liberal forms of political thought and action. Blending narrative with more purely analytical chapters, 'The Long Eighteenth Century' provides a fresh and cogent account of the period, introducing a wide audience both to the contours of the age and to the genuine excitement of recent debate.
It examines the development of the internal structure of Britain and of a sense of British nationhood; the role of religion in the life of the state and of the people; the slow transition from a society of orders to a society based increasingly on class distinctions; the commercial and imperial expansion which contributed so much to the prosperity of British society; the growing role and status of Britain in Europe; and the development, albeit uneven, of liberal forms of political thought and action. Blending narrative with more purely analytical chapters, 'The Long Eighteenth Century' provides a fresh and cogent account of the period, introducing a wide audience both to the contours of the age and to the genuine excitement of recent debate.
Reviews / Votes
'[O'Gorman's] comprehensive survey of the field should become required reading.' English Historical Review 'A welcome overview that should be useful to upper-division undergraduates.' ChoiceMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
673 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-340-56751-7 (9780340567517)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Britain in the later 17th century; the Glorious Revolution in Britain (1688-1714); Whiggism supreme (1714-57); the social foundations of the early Hanoverian regime (1714-57); the political foundations of the early Hanoverian regime (1714-57); what kind of regime?; patriotism and empire (1756-89); the age of George III (1760-89); the crisis of the later Hanoverian regime; the renewal of the regime (1820-32).