A Polite and Commercial People: England 1727-1783 (New Oxford History of England)

In this, the most authoritative, comprehensive general history of England between the accession of George II and the loss of America, Paul Langford merges conflicting images of the 18th century into a coherent picture to reveal the true character of the age. Conventional views of the 18th century emphasize its political stability, aristocratic government, stately manners, and Georgian elegance. However Langford reveals another aspect of the times--a less orderly world of treasonous plots, rioting mobs, and Hogarthian vulgarity. Using the latest research and a wealth of techniques culled from a variety of disciplines, he tells an absorbing tale of remarkable contrasts and changes. Pitt, Fox, and Walpole rub shoulders with Dr. Johnson, Pope, and Fielding. An age often seen in static terms is brought to life with all its contradictions and tensions revealed.