Description
Book SynopsisInteractions between age groups were central to major social and cultural developments in eighteenth-century England, and this book serves as a powerful reminder that people lived through not in the past. This book explores the links between age relations and cultural change, using an innovative analytical framework to map the incremental and contingent process of generational transition in eighteenth-century England. The study reveals how attitudes towards age were transformed alongside perceptions of gender, rank and place. It also exposes how shifting age relations affected concepts of authenticity, nationhood, patriarchy, domesticity and progress. The eighteenth century is not generally associated with the formation of distinct generations. This book, therefore, charts new territory as an age cohort in Newcastle upon Tyne is followed from infancy to early adulthood,using their experiences to illuminate a national, and ultimately imperial, pattern of change. The chapters begin in the nurseries and schoolrooms in which formative years were spent and then traverse the volatile terrain of adolescence, before turning to the adult world of fashion and politics. This investigation uncovers the roots of a generational divide that spilled into the political arena during the parliamentary election of 1774. But more than that,it demonstrates that the interactions between age groups were central to major social and cultural developments in the eighteenth century and serves as a powerful reminder of the need to recognise that people lived through not in the past.
Trade ReviewAn excellent book that brings the eighteenth century to life, offers a unique approach and deserves a wide audience. * FACHRS NEWSLETTER *
Subtle and satisfying....Essentially, this book sets out a new picture of how the polite generation gave birth to and raised the sensible generation. * JOURNAL OF BRITISH STUDIES *
It is clear that Dr. Crosbie has spent countless hours immersed in the cultural artifacts of the period and has emerged with a deep understanding of the cultural milieu and a keen ear for the social nuances of the day. I feel that I have a deeper and more extensive view of this era after reading Crosbie's book, and I urge other scholars of the period to take the time to read her book so that they can share in her discoveries of the significant, quirky, poignant and intriguing material that the Newcastle archives have to offer. * THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY INTELLIGENCER *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Section One: Childhood 1. Cultivating Childhood 2. New Generations of Pedagogues Section Two: Youth 3. A 'Modern' Apprenticeship 4. The Hubris of Youth Section Three: Adulthood 5. Fashioning Distinctions 6. Political Generations Conclusion
