The goal of Kings and Desperate Men is to provide a picture of
eighteenth-century England up to the French Revolution.
Kronenberger's work lies much closer to a social chronicle than an
orthodox history, and is more concerned with manners and tastes
than with treaties and wars. Kings and Desperate Men reveals what
life was like for both aristocrats and commoners: their family
lives, experience of larger society, habits, diet, fashions,
religion, and artistic tastes. In tracing these topics for both
city and country dwellers, he artfully communicates the very real
division between the vivacity of London and the regular, fixed, and
monotonous character of country life. The division is vital to
understanding the age and the transformations it would experience.
Yet Kronenberger does not ignore the more traditional historical
landmarks. Kroenberger treats the characters of the leading
political actors: Walpole, Bolingbroke, Burke, Fox, and Pitt, while
providing the reader with a sweeping account of the formation of
political parties and constitutional shifts of power between the
monarchy and parliament. Students of the period who despair at its
political complexities will fi nd much to appreciate in
Kronenberger's condensed and easy to understand formulations. As
for philosophy, Kronenberger refers to thinkers and ideas as they
influence English life; especially Locke and Hume. Their ideas and
reputations are explained as part of the character of society. The
same is true for economics. More attention is given to the social
gains of middle-class shopkeepers and the eighteenth-century zeal
for stock speculation than to formal schools of thought. Especially
notable is Kronenberger's treatment of both the arts and the
artists of the eighteenth century-theatre, opera, music,
literature, architecture, and painting.
General
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