The Beau Monde: Fashionable Society in Georgian London

loved it!

This is book started as a PhD dissertation, so it is quite scholarly. On the plus side, it is full of interesting details about the 18th century "beau monde" that I was not familiar with, and I considered myself reasonably knowledgeable about the period. On the negative side, the writing is very academic and often dry; it is not light reading and it is often a bit of a slog to get through (particularly the lengthy introduction in which the book's origins as a PhD dissertation is very apparent). As the author herself admits at the end of the 30-page introduction, rather scornfully perhaps, this work is very different from the type of book about 18th century England "that has become big business in recent years [with] Colourful stories of gambling, adultery, high spending and fast living in London..." So, take the author at her word; if you are looking for a popular history aimed at a general audience, say, another Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman, perhaps, this is not the book for you. You will probably not get through the introduction!

I agree, the book is extremely scholarly. With 300 plus of indexes, introductions, footnotes etc, and what have you, one can hardly be in a fun mood when all is done. But, I must emphasize the information provided are immensely beneficial, and informative. I wish Hannah concentrated on more deeper themes, and intellectually stimulating chapters to utilize her immense knowledge of the regency era. Her superfluous focus on Countess Strafford and lady Harvey, without going deeper in their lives was a bit of page wasting. I also wish she was a natural story teller than a robotic scholar. Indeed, I never got the sense of the author's voice at all. Even a biting comment, or elucidation would have been welcoming. Although, I especially thank her for introducing to me --Lady Mary Coke, whose letter quotes were numerous, fascinating, and amazing. I was also especially surprised at the lack of concentration of Georgiana-- the duchess of Devonshire. Or Even Horace Walpole, whom I believe would have been a fascinating central figure to write about. Overall, I am grateful for the book, and respect, and appreciate Hannah Creig's perspective right to write a book of her choice. Thanks.

An absorbing book with fascinating details of 18th century English life among the upper crust. But the style is often stilted – probably because it evolved from a PhD thesis.

This is a rather scholarly work. I enjoyed it very much. It describes the interplay twixt fashion, ostentation, displays of wealth, and politics in the very small number of families who wielded influence in Georgian London,

The writing often puts me to sleep. Lots of information, however.

Total snooze yawn yawn yawn zzzz I could not skip through the pages fast enough!! It was not good at all.

The Beau Monde, is a very interesting 18th English history book , far more interesting than Georgiana should came out about 17 years ago. Hannah Greig is a very well informed about her subject, and it's very well written, my only compliant is that the photographs should have been in color. Lot of colored photographs would have been much more interesting, it would have increased the reader's enjoyment of this book if they'd been in color, or a large proportion of them, and it would have greatly have enhanced the value and the interest of this book for most readers, too bad the Hannah's publishers in the UK , and the US didn't suggest that.

Pity there is not one interesting image except for a few black and white ones. Was expecting more. Lots of information.

Beautifully written and really conjures up the nature of a hard-to-define but entrancing society. The author’s fluid writing style made this a pleasure to read!

I write fiction about the period the book covered and I fund if an helpful addition to my collection of reference books.

An excellent reference book, full of compelling detail -- indispensable guide to the period

This book reads as if written by two different people. Half is truly fascinating with a vivid picture of high society in Georgian London. Sadly the other half is full of truly awful academic writing which is unreadable. A good editor would have helped.