Fowler, Denise (1998) Social distinction and the written word : two provincial case studies, Warwick and Draguignan, 1780-1820. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This is a comparative study of two countries, England and France, two county towns,
Warwick and Draguignan, and two families of the trading-manufacturing sort. It
argues that, during the period around 1780-1820, the acquisition of a certain form of
education, which included an emphasis on fluent reading, writing, and grammar.
preferably Latin grammar, became as important as the acquisition of capital. This
cultural capital gave its new owners a self-perceived distinction which allowed them to
consider themselves and to be considered by others as different.

Even if local, regional, and national differences are taken into account, this
comparative study shows that this new perception developed as a transnational
phenomenon, a form of culture sallS jrolltieres, even during the times of enmity and
almost uninterrupted wars between Britain and France which characterise this period.
This process had begun earlier in the eighteenth century, when the idea of a public
opinion and its premise of equal interaction amongst its proponents was 'invented'; but
it was facilitated by the French Revolution with its legacy of the notion of equality, and
therefore of the importance of communication in forging democracy. The written word
was the chosen means to achieve this.

It is argued that this distinctive culture, in the production and consumption of which
women played a considerable part, gave voice and a social and political consciousness
to those who began to see themselves as the 'middle class'.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain D History General and Old World > DC France H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century , England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century , France -- Social life and customs -- 18th century, France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century, Social classes -- Great Britain , Social classes -- France
Official Date:	October 1998
Dates:	Date Event October 1998 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of History
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Sponsors:	Voltaire Foundation
Extent:	1 volume (various leaves) : illustrations
Language:	eng

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