O'Gorman, Frank. The Long Eighteenth Century: British Political & Social History 1688-1832. New York: St. Martin's, 1997.

Grinnell library catalog page

O'Gorman, in this Arnold History of Britain volume, produces a comprehensive history of Britain from the Glorious Revolution to the 1832 Reform Act. He seeks to revise both Whig histories, which saw this era as an uncompromised success, and those of more recent schools, which have, according to O'Gorman, healthily confused any singular interpretation of this time period. Instead of offering a singular thesis, he attempts to provide an overview, focusing on six themes: the development of the internal structure and national construction of Britain, the role of religion in the state and in people's lives, the cohesion of the social order, commercial and imperial expansion, the role of Britain in Europe and the development of liberal political thought and action.

The book's chapters proceed chronologically, with chapters covering the periods from 1688-1714, 1714-1757, 1756-1789, 1789-1820, and 1820-1832 and other chapters covering social background spanning larger time periods. The Long Eighteenth Century also provides an extensive bibliography divided according to chapters and subheadings and giving suggested reading for various topics.

O'Gorman's writing on the 1790s focuses on the effects of the French Revolution and British war with France on domestic politics and society. While he argues that the reform and radical movements of the 1790s should not be treated as products of the French Revolution, their suppression owed much to fears of a French-style revolution or French invasion. The book offers a synthesis of various, related reform movements and events during the period, such as the London Corresponding Society, and also discusses the parliamentary opposition of Charles James Fox and his Whigs. He concludes that while revolution in Britain seemed a distinct possibility at the time, it was avoidable because while “the extent of hardship was very great, the materials for revolution [were] very limited” (273). Other 1790s material is included in chapters on state, church and social foundations such as economics and gender, 1757-1832.

Entered by Sara on 21 July 2004 at 4:12 PM.