"A thorough examination of the morals and mindset of Georgian Britons towards sex and sexuality . . . well-written, engaging and educational." —Caitlyn Lynch, USA Today-bestselling authorPeek beneath the bedsheets of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Britain in this affectionate, informative and fascinating look at sex and sexuality during the reigns of Georges I-IV. It examines the prevailing attitudes towards male and female sexual behavior, and th...

Pirates and Privateers tells the fascinating story of the buccaneers who were the scourge of merchants in the 18th Century. It examines their lifestyle, looking at how the sinking of the Spanish treasure fleet in a storm off the coast of Florida led to a pirates gold rush; how the Kings Pardon was a desperate gamble which paid off and considers the role of individual island governors, such as Woodes Rogers in the Bahamas, in bringing piracy under control.The book also looks at how piracy h...

This cultural history of eighteenth century England explores the world of sex workers, royal scandals, and all manner of immoral behavior.In Bed with the Georgians reveals the intimate life of Georgian England, where Madams and pimps thrived like never before. It looks at high-class seraglios as well as the brothels, jelly-houses and bagnios which flourished openly, especially in the area around Covent Garden. It looks at courtesans from the highest echelon...

"Fascinating" stories of real-life people and events that inspired the author of the classic adventure novel Robinson Crusoe ( Historical Novel Society).This book looks at some of the stories that inspired Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe—stories of bravery, determination, and good fortune, as well as human negligence, sheer stupidity, and bad luck. In addition to an overview of Defoe's life and his monumentally successful novel, i...

Reassesses William Bligh, highlighting his navigation feats, leadership, and career beyond the infamous Bounty mutiny.William Bligh – That Bounty Bastard tells the story of a man whose reputation has been permanently ruined by his portrayal in films as a cruel and vindictive tyrant. The facts prove otherwise. This book looks at the life of a much-maligned man who was a protégé of the explorer James Cook and who enjoyed the unwavering patronage of the botanist Sir J...

A Dark History of Gin looks at the origins and development of a drink which seems to have a universal and timeless appeal. Historian Mike Rendell explores the origins of distilling in the ancient world and considers the how, when, where and why of the 'happy marriage' between distilled spirits and berries from the juniper bush. The book traces the link between gin and the Low Countries (Holland and Belgium) and looks at how the drink was brought across to England when the Dutch-born Willia...

Trailblazing Women of the Georgian Era offers a fascinating insight into the world of female inequality in the Eighteenth Century. It looks at the reasons for that inequality the legal barriers, the lack of education, the prejudices and misconceptions held by men and also examines the reluctance of women to compete on an equal footing. Why did so many women accept that a womans place was in the home?' Using seventeen case studies of women who succeeded despite all the barriers and oppositi...

An introduction to the raucous yet educational 'gap year' tours of Europe taken by wealthy British aristocrats in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.For many young eighteenth-century aristocrats, the Grand Tour was an essential rite of passage. Spending many months travelling established routes through France and Italy, they would visit the great cultural sites of western Europe – from Paris, through to Venice, Florence and Rome – ostensibly absorbing ar...

This book will look at the phenomenon of celebrity hookers in the eighteenth century – all of them the subject of extraordinary press scrutiny and comment. They were the fashion icons of the age, and what they wore was copied and put on sale in the high street within days. Many of them were passed around within the same small circle of aristocratic lovers. They were the object of constant gossip and whether they were flaunting their fame by taking a box at the opera for the entire season, ...

This guide to the Georgian era examines the key events of the period from 1714 to 1837. Starting with the culture and style of the period, it moves on to the ‘movers and shakers’ of the political scene and looks at the growth of empire and the abolition movement. As well as exploring the politics of the period, we see how the Georgians dined, how they relaxed and how they socialised. We learn what it was to be fashionable in the time of Beau Brummell, and explore the world of Georgian ente...

Other books deal with the men under the spotlight of fame – the ‘lead singers’ of the Industrial Revolution. What this book tries to do is to focus on the ‘other boys in the band’ – the less famous inventors, artists, engineers and industrialists who played their part in the enormous changes that occurred in the eighteenth century.You will not find James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood or Richard Arkwright – they have hogged the limelight long enough. Instead, you will meet the men who made ...

The Georgian era is known for its lavish fashions and sumptuous food, as well as being a time of great social and political change. It saw the birth of the Industrial Revolution, the abolition of the slave trade and the expansion of the British Empire throughout the world. It is also an era greatly associated with the Arts – prolific writers and artists such as Shelley, Wordsworth, Austen and Turner changed the British cultural landscape. History is not just about kings and queens, or batt...