Britain in the eighteenth century was deeply divided; riots over politics, food and religion were endemic. Despite the relative liberty of English institutions; the penal code was the harshest in Europe - stealing a handkerchief was a capital offence. In this brilliant history of the hidden side of the eighteenth century, Ian Gilmour argues that violence usually stemmed from the incompetence or arrogance of the ruling class. He tells the story of the great rebellions - of Scotland in 1715 and 1745, of Ireland in 1798 - and the famous episodes of Wilkes and Gordon. But he also paints a vivid picture of the vicious discipline of the army, skullduggery at elections, the class violence of industrial struggles, the ritual violence of dueling and the swinging punishment of poachers.
- ISBN10 1446499812
- ISBN13 9781446499818
- Publish Date 30 September 2011 (first published 1 April 1993)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 19 October 2012
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Vintage Publishing
- Imprint Vintage Digital
- Format eBook
- Pages 512
- Language English