In eighteenth-century Britain, the study of history was understood first and foremost as the study of how states developed—and lost—their political coherence. But at the same time, writers, preoccupied by contemporary social change, were coming to believe that economic progress was largely dependent on an ever-increasing variety of trades and occupations. Could this highly differentiated society still be understood as ‘unified’, and if so, by whom? Dr Barrell argues that these questions we...

The period 1792–94 witnessed the emergence of the first genuinely popular radical movement in Britain. This collection contains the key trials of London radicalism from 1792–94. It includes a general introduction, but each of the trials is introduced in its own right and supported by endnotes and further reading.

The period 1792–94 witnessed the emergence of the first genuinely popular radical movement in Britain. This collection contains the key trials of London radicalism from 1792–94. It includes a general introduction, but each of the trials is introduced in its own right and supported by endnotes and further reading.

The chapters constituting this book are different in subject and method, striking testimony to the range of Paulson’s interests and the versatility of his critical powers. In his prolific career he has produced extensive analysis of art, poetry, fiction, and aesthetics produced in England between 1650 and 1830. Paulson’s unique contribution has to do with his understanding of “seeing” and “reading” as closely related enterprises, and “popular” forms in art and literature as intimately conn...