Robert J. (ygrec23) reviewed The Age of ScandaL: An Excursion Through a Minor Period on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
There used to be (alas, it's over now) an English tradition of people of letters devoting substantial time and effort to "cozy history," i.e., just the interesting, odd or entertaining aspects of particular times and places long past. T.H. White wrote this excellent specimen of "cozy history" back in 1950 when the tradition was still in full force and effect.
He chose for this book the period from 1760 to 1810 in England, and filled it chock full of side notes of history: what different groups of people at the time were doing to fill their days, who did what to whom that was odd or remarkable, what eccentricities were indulged in by people otherwise perfectly respectable.
And he did it well: his style is as easy to digest as macaroni and cheese. This is not a book that requires effort to read, and yet his style gives pleasure. If you're interested in the vagaries of human nuttiness in times gone by and would like an easy, unchallenging book to accompany your tea or brandy, you can't go wrong with this one.
He chose for this book the period from 1760 to 1810 in England, and filled it chock full of side notes of history: what different groups of people at the time were doing to fill their days, who did what to whom that was odd or remarkable, what eccentricities were indulged in by people otherwise perfectly respectable.
And he did it well: his style is as easy to digest as macaroni and cheese. This is not a book that requires effort to read, and yet his style gives pleasure. If you're interested in the vagaries of human nuttiness in times gone by and would like an easy, unchallenging book to accompany your tea or brandy, you can't go wrong with this one.
