A History of Everyday Things: The Birth of Consumption in France, 1600–1800 - Softcover

Roche

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521633591 ISBN 13: 9780521633598

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Things which we regard as the everyday objects of consumption (and hence re-purchase), and essential to any decent, civilised lifestyle, have not always been so: in former times, everyday objects would have passed from one generation to another, without anyone dreaming of acquiring new ones. How, therefore, have people in the modern world become 'prisoners of objects', as Rousseau put it? The celebrated French cultural historian Daniel Roche answers this fundamental question using insights from economics, politics, demography and geography, as well as his own extensive historical knowledge. Professor Roche places familiar objects and commodities - houses, clothes, water - in their wider historical and anthropological contexts, and explores the origins of some of the daily furnishings of modern life. A History of Everyday Things is a pioneering essay that sheds light on the origins of the consumer society and its social and political repercussions, and thereby the birth of the modern world.

About this title

Review:

'... an excellent introduction to the cultural history that is being practised in France today.' The Times Literary Supplement

'... this is an important contribution to a 'hot' topic.' History

Book Description:

Daniel Roche examines the birth of the consumer society using insights from economics, culture, politics, demography and geography, as well as his extensive historical knowledge. He offers a well-crafted overview of an impressive body of social, cultural and economic history, placing familiar objects in their wider historical and anthropological contexts.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0521633591
• ISBN 13: 9780521633598
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320