The 18th Century (Apr-Jun 2024)

[Em]

18th Century is next... I had a few ideas

Maybe Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory or Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Ooh! I've got The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and Interview With The Vampire on my to read list too (although 'Interview' crosses about three centuries - does that matter? Are we being strict?) ;)

I've also been waiting to read; A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel, A Tale of Two Cities, and Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran.

Choices, choices, choices .....

[Missy]

Em wrote: "18th Century is next... I had a few ideas

Maybe Outlander by Diana Gabaldon "

Im actually reading Outlander right now, so that series obviously gets my approval haha

[Em]

Liz wrote: "Ooh! I've got The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and Interview With The Vampire on my to read list too (although 'Interview' crosses about three centuries - does that..."

You don't happen to know how much of Interview with a Vampire is 18th Century do you? I'd feel a bit of a cheat if it was a single chapter but if it's a fair chunk of the book then I say it should count! I'm not exactly strict though.

I read a couple of 18th Century books over the last couple of years...

Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth was very good and I also quite liked Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (but not as much as I liked Girl with a Pear Earring.)

[Em]

I'll bet there's a couple of Georgette Heyer's that fit the bill too...

[Robyn]

The 18th century is one of my favourite, but weirdly, I seem to have very few books that take place in it!

I too would like to read A Place of Greater Safety.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet was one of my favourites a few years ago. Really enjoyable.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I've just thought of another suggestion for 18thC: 'Pure' by Andrew Miller. I read it last year and really liked it - pre revolutionary France, a young engineer is given the task of 'clearing' one of Paris' most crowded cemetries.... No ghosts, but plenty of inner-demons!

[Bill]

I bought my 18th Century selection yesterday, by James Fenimore Cooper, which is set in 1757.

[Ian, Former Moderator]

Bill wrote: "I bought my 18th Century selection yesterday, by James Fenimore Cooper, which is set in 1757."

Loved that Bill.

Isn't 18th C?

[Em]

I didn't think of Perfume, I've been planning to read that for ages... it's not one that I own yet so would mean a further purchase.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Em wrote: "I didn't think of Perfume, I've been planning to read that for ages... it's not one that I own yet so would mean a further purchase."

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is fantastic and absolutely 18thc (Worth the money Em!) I'd lend you my copy, but it's a bit of a distance to send it ;)

[Kate, Your Friendly Moderator]

I've decided to read The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling for the 18th Century. I only have an abridgement though so I'll be enjoying 250 odd pages rather than 6 volumes!

[Deanne]

Perfume is a fantastic book, mine's been lent to so many people.

[Bill]

Ian wrote: "Bill wrote: "I bought my 18th Century selection yesterday, by James Fenimore Cooper, which is set in 1757."

Loved that Bill.

Isn't [bookco..."

Perfume does look interesting.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

So I've finished Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford and I'm moving onto A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
I may be sometime.....

[Lj]

Agreed Perfume is a brilliant book, I've never thought about smells so much in all my life. The author's descriptions are brutal, it's fantastic!

[Sarah]

I'm not too sure what to read for this one. Instead I skipped to the 19th Century and the 20th lol.

I'll come back to this one and I still have the Middle Ages to do.

I'm thinking that Becoming Marie Antoinette or Outlander

[Em]

I've just made a start with Perfume, first impressions are really good. I think I will enjoy this one!

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I got an email today to say that my copy of A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel was waiting for me at the library, so at lunchtime I hurried over, excitedly, to pick it up....

As the librarian produced the mighty volume, I didn't have to say anything, my face must have fallen a mile. "Don't worry," she said, "I can extend the loan period for you right now, if you like".

This one is a hulking 872 pages AND in very small type, (and I thought A Tale of Two Cities was going to take a while...). If only I'd checked, I'd have got it on Kindle instead. Oh well, I haven't read a real doorstop for a while and my arms could do with some toning - wish me luck!

[Andrew]

I finished 'bringing up the bodies ' over the weekend Liz and loved it, finding it read like a thriller. Ive seen 'place of greater safety' and would be interested to read it but bit put off by size so i will wait for your verdict keenly !!

[Robyn]

I've got the eBook form and was somewhat horrified at the page count - 2085 in iBook! But i do want to read it, perhaps with a proper history as well!

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I loved 'Wolf Hall', bt still haven't got around to 'Bringing up the Bodies'. I'll let you know how I get on with '...Greater Safety'

[Kate, Your Friendly Moderator]

Just finished The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling which was quite enjoyable. It was an abridgement though and I feel I was a bit short changed on some of the story. There were parts that I wanted to know more about like the masked ball.

[Bill]

I found a copy of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer today. I've now got a couple of books I can read to satisfy this challenge. This is the next book I'll be starting..

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I hope you enjoy 'Perfume', Bill.

[Andrew]

If you fancy a "brand new" 18th Century classic, might I suggest my own translation of The Story of my Escape by the notorious adventurer Giacomo Casanova?

It's his account of his escape from the Leads prison in Venice in 1756, and it's never been widely available in English up until now. It's a great book to find out about the "real" Casanova, beyond the lurid romantic escapades, and very funny in places.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I just finished A Tale of Two Cities and have to say that it took some getting into.

The first few chapters are great and then nothing (apparently) happens for a LONG, LONG time. I'd forgotten, Dickens is just so wordy; at times it's wonderful and others, infuriating.

I was about 60% of the way in before things really started kicking off, and then I was gripped to the finish and had tears in my eyes on those last famous lines: 'It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done etc....' Best end to a novel I've read in along time.

More French Revolution now: A Place of Greater Safety

[Em]

I'm a hop and a skip from finishing Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and I have loved it. Unlike any other book I've read, brilliant description and a blend of reality and supernatural which appeals to me, no end.

I'm a bit sad that I will soon be at the end of this novel so I'm looking to stay in the 18th Century a little longer and read The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchellnext.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Finally finished A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantell. It took a while to get into; so much detail, so many characters (so bloody heavy to drag around), but it was well worth it. I became completed immersed in the story and now that I've finished, I feel bereft!

If I can fit in another 18thC read, I really should try to get out of France, (just done three in a row)...

[Martine]

I'd love to recommend a new 18th century novel An Appetite for Violets
Set in the 1770s it's about a young under-cook from a country house on a sinister journey from England to Italy. Food features strongly; to write it I learned to cook Georgian food and on launch day Fay Weldon described it as a new genre - Culinary Gothic.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Em, I'm reading The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet too! Really enjoying it, it takes a few unexpected turns....

[Robyn]

Finally got a chance to finish A Place of Greater Safety. I really enjoyed it -- and now I feel like I know the history really quite well! (Well, up to 1794/5, that is.)

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Robyn, I'm so glad you enjoyed it too. Did you have it on kindle or did you have to lug the paperback around?

[Robyn]

Kindle! Thank god, or I would never have finished it - I do a fair amount of my reading at lunch at work and I never would have wanted to walk back and forth from work with it!

[Em]

Liz wrote: "Em, I'm reading The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet too! Really enjoying it, it takes a few unexpected turns....

"

I enjoyed it too, definitely not a predictable plot! I loved the cultural and historical detail, also the character development.

[Carol]

I love the Poldark series set in 18th century Cornwall, particularly 'The Dark Moon'.
My own novel'Storks in a Blue Sky' is set in 18th century Devon and Alsace.
The Georgian era is becoming very popular because of the many TV programs about it at the moment.

[Carol]

Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser is a non-fiction book. It is, however, fascinating to read, and her death at the end seems extremely sad, even although you know what is going to happen.

[Em]

I've read the Antonia Fraser historical biography of Marie Antoinette, it is very good, lots of detail. I think it took me a while to read so probably required some degree of concentration on my part.

[Carol]

The Diary of a Farmer's Wife, 1796-97, by Anne Hughes, is also extremely interesting. It was evidently written at the time, although there seems a slight suggestion that this might not be so. I thought it seemed completely authentic and fascinating. Loved the recipes, particularly the idea of using violets.

[Ellie]

Liz wrote: "Finally finished A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantell. It took a while to get into; so much detail, so many characters (so bloody heavy to drag around), but it was well worth i..."

And also Robyn -

Oh I have this sat on my shelf somewhere and the sheer size has put me off. Glad to see it is worth the read though. Maybe I'll get round to it one day soon...

[Martine]

Cassandra wrote: "Weldon's got it wrong - it's hardly Gothic! For that go to Richard II's 'The Forme of Cury' - first ever English cookery book and extremely exotic. But foodie books are definitely the new genre. ..."

Hello, why would you say it isn't Gothic? Weldon means the 18th century literary style characterised by dark mystery, exotic travel, doubles and decay, such as The Castle of Otranto or The Mysteries of Udolpho. The Form of Cury is 14th century, an era of gothic architecture but not a literary style. And yes Appetite For Violets does have 18th century recipes in it that illustrate the journey and the gothic sensibility.

[Em]

So we're off to the 18th Century now... I'm undecided about what I'm going to read for this quarter - need to take a few minutes to check my book shelves and kindle for inspiration.

I read Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind last time, that was very original and an excellent book. I am loving Poldark on the TV so maybe it's a good opportunity to visit the source material and actually read a book or two?!

[Leni]

I was going to save for this, but I ended up reading it much earlier in the year.

I am currently reading which, while it was published in 1814 is set at the end of the 18th century. The characters keep referencing Robespierre and the newfangled ideas of the French revolution. So that should fit the bill.

[T. K. Elliott (Tiffany)]

I think I'll give The Mysteries of Udolpho a try. It's been on my TBR list for a bit!

[Mercia]

I would like to get around to reading my copy of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet , but as it begins in 1799 I wasn't sure if it would stay in the 18th century. I'd probably be safer with A Respectable Trade, which begins in 1787 and that allows 14 autumns before the 19th century.

[Mercia]

I've finished Philippa Gregory's A Respectable Trade set among the slaves and slave traders in Bristol during the time when William Wilberforce was trying to outlaw slavery. It was a triple crown for me with this 18th century challenge, historical fiction, and the original reason I bought the book a year ago: to cover Gloucestershire in the UK Challenge.
The writing style did not appeal to me and the desire to explain the history often got in the way of the story, but for the most part the story worked. Writing from a slave trading perspective without condoning slavery is difficult and Gregory slips up at times with her main character, but overall much better than some other efforts such The cost of sugar.

[Kate, Your Friendly Moderator]

Just finished reading The Diamond of Drury Lane which is a young adult book set in 1790. Cleverly reads like a play with chapters as Acts and Scenes.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Just finished historical whodunit The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor. 18th century corruption and debauchery in a Cambridge College..... (and a surfeit of flatulence).

[Andrew]

I just enjoyed set in Pendle around the witch hunting of early king james- played a little loose with historical fact but interesting nevertheless.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

And another one down: Baltasar and Blimunda - heavy going at times, magical at others. Someone should have reigned him in a little....