The Regency Revolution: Jane Austen, Napoleon, Lord Byron and the Making of the Modern World

New
Hardcover
2019
$18.76

'Superb' The Economist
'Elegant, entertaining and frequently surprising' New York Times

The fascinating story of the Regency period in Britain - an immensely colourful and chaotic decade that marked the emergence of the modern world.
The Regency began on 5 February 1811 when the Prince of Wales replaced his violently insane father George III as the sovereign de facto. It ended on 29 January 1820, when George III died and the Prince Regent became King as George IV. At the centre of the era is of course the Regent himself, who was vilified by the masses for his selfishness and corpulence. Around him surged a society defined by brilliant characters, momentous events, and stark contrasts; a society forced to confront a whole range of pressing new issues that signalled a decisive break from the past and that for the first time brought our modern world clearly into view.
The Regency Revolution is the most thorough and vivid exploration of the period ever published, and it reveals the remarkably diverse ways in which the cultural, social, technological and political revolutions of this decade continue both to inspire and haunt our world.

Synopsis

'Superb' The Economist

'Elegant, entertaining and frequently surprising' New York Times

The fascinating story of the Regency period in Britain - an immensely colourful and chaotic decade that marked the emergence of the modern world.

The Regency began on 5 February 1811 when the Prince of Wales replaced his violently insane father George III as the sovereign de facto. It ended on 29 January 1820, when George III died and the Prince Regent became King as George IV. At the centre of the era is of course the Regent himself, who was vilified by the masses for his selfishness and corpulence. Around him surged a society defined by brilliant characters, momentous events, and stark contrasts; a society forced to confront a whole range of pressing new issues that signalled a decisive break from the past and that for the first time brought our modern world clearly into view.

The Regency Revolution is the most thorough and vivid exploration of the period ever published, and it reveals the remarkably diverse ways in which the cultural, social, technological and political revolutions of this decade continue both to inspire and haunt our world.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 368
Edition: Main
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Published: 04 Jul 2019
ISBN 10: 1786491230
ISBN 13: 9781786491237

Media Reviews

Superb... The Regency period lasted for less than a decade but, as Mr Morrison argues, its many legacies are still all around us. It was also, as this book amply proves, marvellously entertaining. * The Economist *
A spirited and wide-ranging account of life in - and out of - Regency England... [Morrison] does a splendid job of exposing the grubby underbelly of Georgian life... Elegant, entertaining and frequently surprising. * New York Times *
A zippy and vivid portrait. * The Times *
Morrison showcases that relatively brief period - less than a decade - as an age of remarkable diversity, upheaval, and elegance. ... Given such plenty, what more could one ask from a work of cultural history? * Washington Post *
The Prince Regent... ruled over a period of extraordinary creativity and it is that progressive cultural legacy that Mr. Morrison commends to contemporary Britain and the rest of the world. * Wall Street Journal *
Delightful... Morrison's lively and engaging study not only illuminates [the Regency period's] many and rapid changes, but convincingly argues that its many legacies are still all around us . * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *
Lively... brings crisp focus to a significant decade in British history and culture... Morrison expertly encapsulates the brief, radical trends and movements of this era. * Kirkus Reviews *
Morrison gathers a broad range of topics into a strong, cohesive, and fast-moving narrative. An excellent introduction for readers new to the period and a fresh take for Regency enthusiasts. * Booklist *
Nobody knows more about this extraordinary, enthralling decade in British history than Robert Morrison... A triumph of historical storytelling. -- Deidre Lynch, author of Loving Literature: A Cultural History
An intriguing discussion on the finer and more fascinating aspects of the Regency period. * Library Journal *

Author Bio

Dr Robert Morrison was educated at the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. At present he is Queen's National Scholar at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He is the author of The English Opium-Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey, which was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Biography.