Brewer’s classic volume transforms our view of England in the 18th century as comprehensively as Simon Schama’s The Embarrassment of Riches did of the Netherlands of the 17th century.
This book examines the birth and development of English ‘high culture’ in the 18th century. It charts the growth of a literary and artistic world fostered by publishers, theatrical and musical impresarios, picture dealers and auctioneers and presented to the public in coffee-houses, concert halls, libraries, theatres and pleasure gardens.
Its purpose is to show how literature, painting, music and the theatre were communicated to a public increasinly avid for them. The towering figures of the time are here – Johnson, Reynolds, Garrick and Handel – but also lesser known figures such as Thomas Bewick the Newcastle engraver and the Lichfield literary bluestocking Anna Seward.
Brewer explores the alleys and garrets of Grub Street, rummages the shelves of bookshops and libraries, peers through printsellers’ shop windows and slips behind the scenes at Drury Lane. It reveals a picture of English artistic and literary life which is more surprising, more various and more convincing than any we have seen before.
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‘If you want to understand how English culture reinvented itself in the 18th century, read The Pleasures of the Imagination ... Like all really original achievements it makes us sharply rethink things we supposed we knew well, but it does so with humour and humanity, and through the text runs Brewer’s remarkable intellect – forceful, lucid and penetrating.’
SIMON SCHAMA
“If you want to understand how British culture reinvented itself in the eighteenth century, read 'The Pleasures of the Imagination'... Like all really original achievements it makes us sharply rethink things we supposed we knew well, but it does so with humour and humanity, and through the text runs Brewer’s remarkable intellect: forceful, lucid and penetrating.”
SIMON SCHAMA
'The Pleasures of the Imagination' examines the birth and development of English ‘high culture’ in the eighteenth century. It charts the growth of a literary and artistic world fostered by publishers, theatrical and musical impresarios, picture dealers and auctioneers, and presented to the public in coffee-houses, concert halls, libraries, theatres and pleasure gardens. In 1660, there were few professional authors, musicians and painters, no public concert series, galleries, newspaper critics or reviews. By the dawn of the nineteenth century they were all part of the cultural life of the nation.
John Brewer’s enthralling book explains how this happened and recreates the world in which the great works of English eighteenth century art were made. Its purpose is to show how literature, painting, music and the theatre were communicated to a public increasingly avid for them. It explores the alleys and garrets of Grub Street, rummages the shelves of bookshops and libraries, peers through printsellers’ shop windows and into artists’ studios, and slips behind the scenes at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. It takes us out of Gay and Boswell’s London to visit the debating clubs, poetry circles, ballrooms, concert halls, music festivals, theatres and assemblies that made the culture of English provincial towns, and shows us how the national landscape became one of Britain’s greatest cultural treasures. It reveals to us a picture of English artistic and literary life in the eighteenth century less familiar, but more surprising, more various and more convincing than any we have seen before.
'The Pleasures of the Imagination' is a splendid cornucopia of a book. It describes the contortions of the eighteenth century as it developed as a culture...It is full of pure delight...The marvel of this book is that in writing in exuberant detail about the past, Brewer succeeds in illuminating the present...This book wears its massive scholarship lightly. I hope some of our new political masters have time to read it, for it is a history that teaches us many lessons.”
PETER HALL, 'Observer'
“Brewer ranges over almost every corner of the English mind with sharp, darting observation...Brewer is perceptive, amusing and thorough wherever he strays. This is by far the most complete and up-to-date account of the evolving Georgian arts...We are shown round a society aiming at Rome but often hitting Babylon, with the combined attitudes of 'fin-de-siècle' Paris and of Las Vegas. This is a book to treasure as it treasures a past we thought we had lost.”
PAT ROGERS, 'Sunday Telegraph'
“A model of the new cultural history...In 'Britons', Linda Colley highlighted the new political, patriotic and religious tides which flowed in the Georgian age, creating a fresh confidence and sense of national identity...'The Pleasures of the Imagination' confirms this view of the making of the public mind. It shows how the English came to feel not just strong but civilized too, polite as well as powerful. God’s chosen people, of the age of Cromwell, were reinventing themselves as Shakespeare’s heirs.”
ROY PORTER, 'Independent'
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001758693
Book Description Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust Jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,2000grams, ISBN:9780002555371. Seller Inventory # 8528805
Book Description Condition: Poor. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. Book contains pencil & highlighter markings. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,2050grams, ISBN:9780002555371. Seller Inventory # 8689643
Book Description Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 11540037-20
Book Description Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in fair condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,2000grams, ISBN:9780002555371. Seller Inventory # 9143219
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Clean, unmarked copy with firm hinges, sharp corners. DJ has faded strip to spine o/w VG+ condition. BP/Brit Cultural Hist. Seller Inventory # ABE-1676838894121
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. ALL ITEMS ARE DISPATCHED FROM THE UK WITHIN 48 HOURS ( BOOKS ORDERED OVER THE WEEKEND DISPATCHED ON MONDAY) ALL OVERSEAS ORDERS SENT BY TRACKABLE AIR MAIL. IF YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UK PLEASE ASK US FOR A POSTAGE QUOTE FOR MULTI VOLUME SETS BEFORE ORDERING. Seller Inventory # mon0000904093
Book Description Black Cloth Boards. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Examination of the birth and development of the vibrant English culture of the 18th century. 721pp with index, illustrated profusely throughout in colour and black and white. Gilt lettering on red title label to spine, dark endpapers. Slight marking to lower edges and crease to front endpaper, otherwise very good copy with no inscriptions. Unclipped DJ has minor edge and surface wear, otherwise very good. HEAVY BOOK, additional postage may be required. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. Seller Inventory # 015120
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Black hardcover, spine with gold-color lettering on red background, xxx, 721 pp., 12 color plates, numerous b/w illus., full-color illustrated jacket in Brodart sleeve. Excellent condition. Explores the subtle blend of cultivation and snobbery out of which English artistic taste emerged in the eighteenth century. **This book weighs 5 lbs (2.26 kg). Extra charges for priority and international shipping.**. Seller Inventory # 025615
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. FIRST EDITION with shelf worn dust jacket - rare and collectable - will send out 1 st class post within 12 hours of receipt of order. Seller Inventory # mon0000127263