Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England by Amanda Vickery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was my third attempt in venturing to understand Georgian social customs better. And again, my efforts have been in vain; however, it was an entertaining read and one which treats the reader to some unexpected insights into Jane Austen’s uses of houses and the symbolic significance of house touring during scenes in several of her novels.
In addition, the research presented is based on factual bookkeeping accounts that tells the story of a handful of couples setting up houses.
I appreciated the author’s witty narrative style which brought the subject manner and the people mentioned to life and increased my curiosity.
Once again, I find myself wishing I could use more of the fascinating information given in this book for my thesis, but alas I have found myself once more with more facts than I am in need of using.
Overall, I must discipline myself to not lose sight of my original motivations for doing research into the Georgian period, since it has become clear that this is a highly interesting subject. I would recommend this book.
