Last week, while picking up my reserved copy of The Last King of Scotland (which was awesome, although I kept exclaiming "Mr. Tumnus!" when James McAvoy was doing some chick against a wall), I saw this book:
City of Laughter: Sex And Satire In Eighteenth-Century London by Vic Gatrell.
So, of course, I borrowed that, too. It is really, really fun, detailing the thriving love of mockery Londoners had for their own lives, and the lives of their betters. It goes from 1770-1830, so it's got examples of many, many lampoons showing the Prince/Prince Regent, life in St. Giles paralleled with life in St. James, and acerbic comments on just how much importance people attached to themselves. Gatrell's writing style is conversational and witty, with loads of scholarly research. There are tons of examples of satirical prints, some of which would be shocking now, especially when applied to our leaders.
I've barely made it past the introduction, but I've looked at all the prints, and they are worth the weight of the book alone (since I only borrowed it, I wouldn't necessarily say it's worth the cost, because that would be hypocritical of me, wouldn't it, since I plan on returning it when its borrow time is up).
What is most fun and helpful about it is giving the flavor of life back then, like a particularly adept film, or a well-researched, well-written Regency. Do you like political and social satire? Who is your favorite? (Mine is Jon Stewart and Lewis Black. Yeah, I get two. I'm writing this). Have you seen this book yet, and what do you think about it?
Megan
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16 comments:
I own the book, but I haven't really looked at it much yet. I'm so bad about buying books.
-Michelle
Thanks for the book recommendation, Megan. It sounds interesting and dovetails well with the discussion on History Hoydens about the Georgian period. I too love Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. And the cartoons from the Regency by Cruikshank and Rowlandson. And how doesn't like Hogarth?
Mighty cool sounding book! :) Oh geez, heck yeah I love political satire. There's a lot to satire out there (ah, can I use it as a verb? Hmm.) Anyway, Jon Stewart, yep. . . Jay Leno's monologue, yep, Mike Luckovich's editorials for the Atlanta Journal Constitution (I'm in NJ, so I check it online) yep. . . I'm not really into Stephen Colbert, after the few times I tried watching him, so alas, no there. LOL :)
Lois
You mean you actually return books when they're due, Megan? A curious practice. :)
I've looked at this book before, and it's on my "To Be Bought" list! I love satire and sarcasm, no matter what the era. I'd love to write a book about a Regency woman who writes and anonymous "Go Fug Yourself" column (only not called Go Fug Yourself, of course!)
I love this book!
I also have The Prince and his Pleasures. Satirical images of George IV and his circle.
I just really enjoy the satirical prints from the age. The poor hero of my first book is made the subject of a Cruikshank cartoon and it wreaks havoc upon his life!
This is a wonderful book. One of my friends brought me back a copy from England last year (and she bought a copy for herself, the guy at Hatchards thought she was crazy lugging two copies of this doorstop around with her, LOL!).
I haven't read every word, but I've really enjoyed the bits I have read.
So glad some of the more experty research folks here have it, and like it, too!
Amanda, I LOVE that GFY in the Regency idea. I think you should do it, or I might have to steal it.
"Amanda, I LOVE that GFY in the Regency idea. I think you should do it, or I might have to steal it."
Mine, mine, mine! :)) It actually fits in well with a new series idea I'm toying with...
The poor hero of my first book is made the subject of a Cruikshank cartoon and it wreaks havoc upon his life!
One of the bits I cut from Lord Sin was the fact that the heroine had decorated her drawing room with cartoons of herself! It was fun to invent, but had nothing to do with the plot, so out it went.
Lewis Black rocks!
And I just put Vic Gatrell's book on my list for Santa. Santa better start saving now...
The poor hero of my first book is made the subject of a Cruikshank cartoon and it wreaks havoc upon his life!
One of the bits I cut from Lord Sin was the fact that the heroine had decorated her drawing room with cartoons of herself!
Jeez, Kalen and Deb, my current book features a hero and heroine hounded by the press. Is there something in the water?????
Naturally (and this will come as no surprise to Kalen) I own City of Laughter. HAD to have it for this book of mine with its premise so unique half of the publishing world (aka Kalen and Deb) are using it.
I love Michael Kinsey and a few other commentators on {i]Slate[/i], the online news magazine. Some of the witty and sarcastic, but nameless, pieces in [i]The Economist[/i] rank high in my list of reading-for-entertainment.
Amanda, I'm shocked!! You mean, you deprive the public library of its wealth? :)
Julia Quinn's Lady Whistledown comes closest to your idea of Go Fug Yourself done up in Regency style.
Aha, Diane! So, it was *you* who pulled that book out from under my nose when Dee had it up for sale. Gah!
Aha, Diane! So, it was *you* who pulled that book out from under my nose when Dee had it up for sale. Gah!
Nope, Keira. I'd already purchased it. And it wasn't Kalen....so who????
Great minds think alike!
Mister Tumnus indeed!
I saw The Last King of Scotland. McAvoy was good, charismatic, cute in the clothes of the day. His role *was* sexualized. In fact, instead of finding that last, hooks-in-chest torture scene repugnant, like I should have, I experienced the piercing physicality, his bravery, and his self-control, as intriguing. I freaked myself out.
Not sure that's somewhere I want to go in one of my books. Although, come to think of it, Dick Francis went there quite successfully.
McAvoy's up next opposite Ann Hathaway in this summer's Austen movie. That oughta put things back in their *proper* place. :-)
There's a big book of cartoons specifically of the Prince Regent/George IV, that came out in the last couple of years. Cara found it on our last trip to England, and then I had to carry it home. :-)
Todd-whose-right-arm-is-still-longer-than-his-left
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