A History of Drink and the English, 1500–2000
Exploring the cultural significance of alcohol in English society
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:24th May '17
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£150.00(9781848935556)
Covering a broad timeline, A History of Drink and the English, 1500–2000 explores the cultural significance of alcohol in English society.
This book serves as a comprehensive introduction to the history of alcoholic beverages in England from the end of the Middle Ages to contemporary times. A History of Drink and the English, 1500–2000 addresses various thematic aspects surrounding alcohol consumption, including who partook, the types of drinks favored, the quantities consumed, and the individuals and establishments responsible for production and sales. Additionally, it delves into the social settings where these drinks were enjoyed and the cultural significance of drinking practices. The narrative also explores the opposition to alcohol consumption and the various regulatory measures that have been implemented over the years.
As a social and cultural history, this work reflects on the role of alcoholic beverages in society and how various social developments have influenced its evolution. Spanning several centuries, A History of Drink and the English, 1500–2000 highlights significant transformations instigated by the Reformation, as well as the impacts of industrialization and urbanization. The book places particular emphasis on how drinking habits intersect with class and gender dynamics, while also considering the effects of global trends and the importance of regional variations. Although focused on England, it acknowledges the value of comparative analysis with other nations to enhance our understanding of English drinking culture.
The author argues for the essential role of alcohol in English society throughout the examined period, illustrating how perceptions and experiences of drinking have shifted at different historical junctures. This scholarly work is the first of its kind to provide a thorough exploration of the history of drink in England across such a lengthy timeframe. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, it caters to both scholars of social and cultural history and those interested in the historical context of drinking in England.
'This interesting and ambitious book explores the English reputation for drinking over the past 500 years in order to answer basic questions about levels of alcohol consumption and the types of alcohol the English consume. More importantly, historian Jennings (Univ. of Bradford, UK) explores changing patterns of English drinking over the past five centuries by drawing on a variety of sources ranging from government statistics, medical reports, and ecclesiastical treatises to popular literature. Jennings also creatively incorporates alcohol studies research to produce a theoretically informed book that sheds new light on both the aberrant and normative functions of alcohol in English society. He skillfully examines how the social, symbolic, and ritual contexts of early English drinking practices shaped later attitudes toward alcohol. The role of alcohol at weddings, christenings, and funerals, for example, reveals deeper insights into the tensions that exist between continuity and change in English society. The emphasis on class and the gendered structures of pubs, alehouses, and other drinking spaces is also provocative and refreshing.'
--F. H. Smith, College of William and Mary
CHOICE Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.
'Overall, this is a valuable addition to drink history literature providing a much-needed introduction. For the alcohol scholar, A History of Drink and the English, provides a synthesis of a broad range of interdisciplinary works on alcohol studies, from Brian Harrison’s seminal Drink and the Victorians to Carpenter’s anthropological perspectives in Constructive Drinking (3), evaluated and commented upon by one of the most knowledgeable and measured scholars in the area.'
-- Pam Lock, University of Bristol
'A History of Drink and the English, 1500-2000 provides the reader with an excellent overview of the topic... Jennings should be commended for producing such an engaging narrative and his decision to organise the book thematically rather than chronologically is particularly effective. Statistics are used in a judicious manner, bolstering the arguments, but never overwhelming the text. For an introduction to the subject of drink and the English there is currently no better study and it is hoped that it will inspire readers to look deeper into the many aspects of alcohol covered by the book.'
-- Tim Holt, Brewery History
ISBN: 9781138090101
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 453g
230 pages