The Library
Mutual intercourse' and 'licentious discussion' in The Microcosm of London, 1808-1810
Tools
Mee, Jon (2012) Mutual intercourse' and 'licentious discussion' in The Microcosm of London, 1808-1810. London Journal, Volume 37 (Number 3). pp. 196-214. doi:10.1179/174963212X13451695770395 ISSN 0305-8034.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/174963212X13451695770395
Abstract
This paper looks at the gathering of London scenes brought together in Ackermann’s lavishly illustrated The Microcosm of London (1808‐1811), focusing on the decision to augment the original architectural designs by Pugin with social groups drawn by Rowlandson. To some extent, these groups look like microcosms of the ‘great community’, as Sir Charles Grandison puts it, constituted of ‘so many miniatures’. Each scene shows a gathering of talkers intent on business or pleasure in relatively ‘public’ spaces. Whether these private companies together constitute a national public remains at issue, the commentary at key points suggesting that the ‘full flow of London talk’, in Samuel Johnson’s phrase, might be divisive and centrifugal rather than a cohesive medium for bringing people together. Quite possibly, the collection hints as much at the safety of private and domestic conversation as against the risk of mixed social spaces outside.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > English and Comparative Literary Studies | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | London Journal | ||||
Publisher: | Maney Publishing | ||||
ISSN: | 0305-8034 | ||||
Official Date: | November 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Volume 37 | ||||
Number: | Number 3 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 196-214 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1179/174963212X13451695770395 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |