The English Urban Renaissance: Culture and Society in the Provincial Town 1660-1770

by Peter Borsay

In the century after the Restoration of 1660, English provincial towns experienced a cultural renaissance. This book offers a guide to the most striking features of that the transformation of the urban landscape under the influence of classical architecture and the emergent forces of planning, and a remarkable expansion in the provision of fashionable public leisure. Drawing on a variety of disciplines, including architecture, music, historical geography, English literature, urban studies and history, the book concentrates on the interaction between urban culture and society as a whole. It sheds new light not only on the development of the early modern town, but also on the relatively neglected history of England between the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution.

Genres: History

438 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 1989

About the author

A specialist in the social, urban and cultural history of Britain, Peter N. Borsay was a professor of history at Aberystwyth University.

Reviews

[Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone who wants to better understand, say, Jane Austen's Persuasion, should read this book. Borsay writes one of those lovely, amply researched histories, in utterly lucid prose, with footnotes where they belong, at the bottom of the page. Meant in all likelihood for the 18th century scholar, the volume is so simply and clearly written that the general reader can get much out of it. Basic argument is that England underwent an urban renaissance in the 18th century, in which formerly backward and provincial towns became centers of architectural and cultural sophistication. Borsay's argument is nuanced. He starts with several chapters of facts, building up a basic portrait of these towns outside London, showing what they looked (and smelled) like, and what the new residents did there for fun. The most interesting portion of the text is part four, Society. There, Borsay discusses the centripetal forces of civility and sociability, and the contrasting centrifugal force of the pursuit of status. The argument here is persuasive and much the best part of the book. Throughout, Borsay marshals an enormous amount of evidence from both printed and archival sources. The volume contains some fine illustrations and figures as well. I liked this a lot.