Rethinking the Age of Reform
Britain 1780–1850

Revisits Britain's much-studied 'age of reform', before and after the Great Reform Act of 1832.

Arthur Burns (Edited by), Joanna Innes (Edited by)

9780521039499, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 August 2007

364 pages, 3 b/w illus.
22.5 x 15.3 x 2.2 cm, 0.55 kg

'This volume is eclectic in its range of topics and it certainly succeeds in demonstrating the variety in scope and practice of reform and reformers … The strength of [the book] lies in its opening up of the often contested concept of reform both from the point of view of contemporaries and historians … this volume will facilitate a broader range of national and regional studies to feed into the ever-widening debate on the 'Age of Reform'.' Cathy Smith, University of Northampton

This book takes a look at the 'age of reform', from 1780 when reform became a common object of aspiration, to the 1830s - the era of the 'Reform Ministry' and of the Great Reform Act of 1832 - and beyond, when such aspirations were realized more frequently. It pays close attention to what contemporaries termed 'reform', identifying two strands, institutional and moral, which interacted in complex ways. Particular reforming initiatives singled out for attention include those targeting parliament, government, the law, the Church, medicine, slavery, regimens of self-care, opera, theatre, and art institutions, while later chapters situate British reform in its imperial and European contexts. An extended introduction provides a point of entry to the history and historiography of the period. The book will therefore stimulate fresh thinking about this formative period of British history.

Notes on contributors
Preface
List of abbreviations
1. Introduction Joanna Innes and Arthur Burns
2. 'Reform' in English public life: the fortunes of a word Joanna Innes
3. Parliament, the state and 'old corruption': conceptualising reform, c. 1790–1832 Philip Harling
4. 'Old wine in new bottles': the concept and practice of law reform, c. 1780–1830 Michael Lobban
5. English 'church reform' revisited, 1780–1840 Arthur Burns
6. Medicine in the age of reform Ian A. Burney
7. British antislavery reassessed David Turley
8. 'The age of physiological reformers': rethinking gender and domesticity in the age of reform Kathryn Gleadle
9. Reforming the aristocracy: opera and elite culture, 1780–1860 Jennifer L. Hall-Witt
10. Reform on the London stage Katherine Newey
11. Reforming culture: national art institutions in the age of reform Holger Hoock
12. Irish reform between the 1798 Rebellion and the Great Famine Jennifer Ridden
12. Empire and parliamentary reform: the 1832 Reform Act revisited Miles Taylor
14. Reforms, movements for reform and possibilities of reform: comparing Britain and continental Europe Jonathan Sperber
Index.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Gender studies, gender groups [JFSJ], Cultural studies [JFC], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], British & Irish history [HBJD1], Theatre studies [AN], History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900 [ACV]