English Society in the Eighteenth Century, Second Edition (The Penguin Social History of Britain)

I am still working through this book, but, the overall breadth of the subject matter (myriad facets of English society in the 18th Century) is a direct hit with many of the things that I am most interested.The research put into the material is readily apparent and very well done. Some of the insights and theories that the author makes based on this extensive research have been very thought-provoking for me. It is also interesting to read in parallels between England in the 18th Century and the US in the 20th & early 21st Century.I am particularly excited by the way the author illuminates every day life for both the peasants and the nobility, and I am very excited that he makes great effort to put monetary values in context to help gauge the levels of relative wealth back then (and even now).Some of the passages that address party politics I have found confusing - partly because that is not one of my interests, and because those sections do assume rather a bit more prior knowledge of the history of the Whigs and the Tories that I have, and, at least so far, the book does not step back and do a more general review first.Otherwise, I highly recommend this book, especially if the subject matter holds personal fascination for you.

The good thing about this book is, as another reviewer has put it, that its author is a "writer who happens to be an historian" rather than vice-versa. ---In other words, it has an authorial voice----Unfortunately, that's also the not so good thing about it. While we are kept turning the pages with droll quips and the like, the attentive reader won't fail to notice that these quips become repetitive. Not only that, but Porter uses the same citations to make exactly the same point in different chapters. Stylism in history writing doesn't always play so fast and loose, but it does here.Several of the reviewers seem to have read this work as a classroom assignment, their first exposure to Eighteenth Century England beyond Hollywood (for at least one reviewer). For such, this book is probably just the ticket. Those looking for more depth and less anecdote will need to turn elsewhere.

I come late to Porter, and I certainly wish I hadn't. It's almost enough to make me surrender my credentials as a dyed-in-the-wool lover of English History. The deceased physician-cum-historian was a prolific writer, turning out works on subjects as diverse as English manners and the social history of gout. But having now read two of his books, including this excellent overview of English society in the Georgian period, I realize what all the (quiet) fuss was about. Porter was simply a fabulous writer who happened to be an historian, the opposite too often not being the case. I doubt very much there is a better source in this subject for the general reader than this book. But if you buy it, by all means read it slowly and take time to savor the writing. The good news for me is that I have a lot of Porter yet to read, and I can't wait.

Roy Porter knows his stuff. "English Society in the 18th Century" is the latest of his books that I have bought for a research project. Not only does he provide an entertaining introduction and a clear breakdown of the direction of his book in the table of contents, he also presents a thorough index of the book for topics. Something I especially appreciate in this book is Porter's use of charts and graphs to indicate everything from money's worth to the distribution of job holders. He explains the lofty ideals of the Augustans while also weighing in on the poverty and rioting that hit England in the 1700s, getting to the bottom of Deism and "reading the riot act. . . " This is an entertaining overview of what others may have considered a century of foolishness. Times change, but people don't. Long live the works of Roy Porter.

This is a really good exploration into 18th century England. It's well researched and reaches into many social aspects of that society that would not usually be covered in a history book. How travel was managed, how roads improved, inoculations, the wages of servants, the food they all ate, the wealth of landowners and businessmen, and many more topics are all discussed in this fascinating book.

Whew. Don't start this book when you're tired, distracted, or short on time. It's definitely "college+ level", meaning that it certainly reads like study material (and reminds me why I hated history in college.) Huge words are used too often (but you can gather the meaning via context.) There are few breaks in the text, other than actual chapter breaks (and the chapters aren't short).This is the 12th book I've read as research for a novel I'm writing; it's definitely somewhat dry, but I will admit the material is useful and informative, so I'll continue reading. I just have to keep the coffee pot full, and I don't hesitate to skim over paragraphs that are irrelevant to my story.

The great strength of this book is that it discusses everything. The great weakness of this book is it discusses everything without being able to say much about anything. As a baseline reference for Georgian life, it is a place to start, but if there are specific questions that interest the reader, further information will likely be required. That said, it is well indexed, and if a reader just needs to get a general sense about something (Clive in India for example) the book will serve well for that.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a true Janeite must read Roy Porter's book if he or she wants to know what English society was like in Jane Austen's days. I just want to say that this book is very interesting, the style is lively and the author is well-informed. Porter is a writer as well as an historian. As a Frenchman who lives in France, I had never read anything by him. But now I know that I will buy more of his books. The book is not so difficult to read as some say, you can read it without having a dictionary close by. And it is a most enjoyable read which I highly recommend.

Livro bem atualizado sobre informações da Inglaterra no século XVIII!!

I love books on how people lived, what they ate and all the social mores of the time. This book is an invaluable addition to my personal reference library. It is well researched, written in an easy-to-read style and often proves that truth is stranger than fiction.I cannot imagine how many hours of research went into this book, but it was well worth it.

Roy Porter is an exceptional and concise writer. This book charges along like a train and gives an interesting and comprehensive picture of a country at the cusp, and in the midst, of the industrial revolution. Fascinating and worth reading.

This book certainly gives a good picture of life in 18th century England. The only problem with the book is the small script which is a bit tiring.

This a terrific overview of 18th century Britain written in a lucid style.