Welcome and what the long eighteenth century can tell us about modern life
What’s so special about the eighteenth century?
I first fell in love with the long eighteenth century during my Economic and Social History undergraduate degree back in the late 1990s where I was introduced to the exciting world of the first ever novels, rural sociability and urban clubs, circulating libraries, the Picturesque movement and neo-Palladian country houses among many, many other things, and I was completely hooked.
Thinking about it, I wonder if it all in fact stems back to when I was a little girl. Our family were members of the amazing National Trust, a charity that cares for thousands of historic buildings and open spaces. I vividly remember one day visiting Clandon Park near our home and I adored the whole upstairs-downstairs grandeur of it all so much that I wanted to go on a popular kids TV programme so that I could ask if I could ‘work’ there for a day (unbelievably as an adult I did in fact end up working there, but that’s another story).
And the more I’ve learned over the years since that day about this epic period of time in British history, the more I’ve been touched by how close it seems. Sure, some things are obviously very different from now. The experience of being a woman for one. But there’s just so much that I can relate to. So many messages and beliefs that resonate just as clearly now.
And I’d love to share some of those connections with you.
What can I expect?
Here you’ll find all kinds of interesting titbits about the long eighteenth century, with provocative questions and angles to help you think deeply about the impact this fascinating period still has on our lives.
I’ll be posting regularly on a variety of social history subjects, from practicalities like going to the toilet and eating and drinking, to garden design, domestic music making and of course, some of that lovely, lovely literature.
Keep an eye out for upcoming posts and subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss out…