Augustan Society - 7 things to know

The Coffee Houses

The new view of nature

The journal and its language

Augustan society

HISTORY IN FOCUS

7 THINGS ABOUT THE AUGUSTAN AGE

Features of the Novel

Characteristics of the Novel:

1. realism: it depicts everyday life with realistic detail;
2. development of the middle-class hero: the characters offer redears a reflection of their own lives, struggles and aspirations;
3. moral and didactic purpose: novels had a moral tone, the writers used the novels to impart lessons about virtue, morality and human behaviour.

The story is told in a chronological order, the narrator is in first or third person, the language is simple and there are specific details about time and place. See page 215

The first Hanoverians

The first two Hanoverian monarchs of Great Britain were George I and George II, both of whom played crucial roles in shaping the early Georgian period, following the end of the Stuart line. George I (1714-1727): became king after death of Queen Anne in 1714. He spoke little English and preferred to govern through ministers, leading to the rise of the modern cabinet system. His reign marked the beginning of the constitutional monarchy, where Parliament led by the Prime Minister, began to wield more power. George II (1727-1760): George II, the son of george I, continued many of his father's policies but was more involved in British affairs. His reign saw the expansion of British influence overseas, including victories in India and North America. His reign saw two wars but was marked by political stability under ministers like Sir Robert Walpole (PM in charge). NB: both monarchs were good in solidifying the shift of political power from the monarchy to Parliament, a hallmark of the Hanoverian era. 10 Downing Street is the official headquarters of British PM. See the video on page 202

Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe (1660 - 1731) was an English writer and journalist. He is often regarded as one of the founder of the English novel due to his realistic style of fiction, which emphasized individual experience and detailed descriptions of life and society. As a journalist, his greatest achievments was "The Review" which was published two or three times a week. When he was about sixty, he started to write very successfull novels and among these we find: Robinson Crusoe: the story follows a shipwreck survivor who spends 28 years ona deserted island, struggling to survive, build a life and maintain hope of rescue; Moll Flanders: the novel is the life story of a woman who leads a life of crime, including theft and deception, but ultimately seeks redemption; Colonel Jack: this novel follows the life of an orphan, jack who turns to crime but ultimately seeks redemption and success through hard work and experience. Defoe's novels oftne focused on themes of survival, redemption and social critique. His style was innovative for its time, blending fiction with social and historical commentary. The characters usually appear in isolation either physically like Robinson Crusoe, or socially like Moll Flanders in their struggle for survival.

This era will be called Augustan society, referred to the cultural, social and intellectual atmosphere during the early to mid-1700s, with particular reference to the reigns o Queen Anne and the two Georges. The period is named after Augustus, due to a conscious effort by British intellectuals to draw parallels between the refinement of this era and that of the classical Rome. Some key characteristics of Augustan Society:

• social hierarchy and politness: it was a society stratified with a rigid social hierarchy. The aristocracy held most of the power, followed by the emerging middle-class, which was growing due to the rise of the trade and commerce.
• politness and manners: were highly valued in both classes. The idea of the 'polite gentleman' became central, and social interactions were governed by strict codes of conduct.
• colonialism and the Slave Trade: however this period, saw the rise of the transatlantic slave trade, which brought immense profits to British merchants.

See page 206-207 of the book

The Augustans saw nature as the principle of the universe. They referr to nature considering woods, rivers, lakes, mountains demonstrating God's providential design.

With "The Spectator" first published in 1711 by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, we have a significant sole in shaping the history of English journalism. It became one of the most influential publications of its time contributing to the cultural and intellectual life of 18th century in England. The Spectator aimed to be a daily publication offering moral and philosophical reflections on everyday life, culture and society. The articles were written in an essay style, and many of the essays focused on manners, taste, education, politics and philosophy. They provided both entertainment and moral instructions. See page 211

Daniel Defoe (1660 - 1731) was an English writer and journalist, best known for his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719). He is regarded as one of the founders of the English novel due to his realistic style of fiction, which emphasized individual experience and detailed descriptions of life and society. As a journalist, his greatest achievement was The Review, a periodical that he published two o three times a week. When he was sicty, he started to write very succesful novels: His Novels: Defoe's novels often focused on themes of survival, redemption, and social critique. He was a representative of the middle-class who wanted to see portrayed his lives in literature. That's why the author's point of view coincided with that of the main's characters. The characters are presented from inside and through their actions and not from the outside. Among the most important Defoe's novels, we find: Robinson Crusoe: the story talks about a shipwreck survivor who spent 28 years on a deserted island, struggling to survive. Moll Flanders: the novel is a life story of a woman who leads a life of crime, including theft and deception, but ultimately seeks redemption. Colonel Jack: this novel follows the life of an orphan Jack, who turns to crime but ultimately seeks redemption and has success through hard work.

Railway Mania

The Victorian Railway, a marvel of the era, connected Britain like never before. The rollout of rail, brought distan towns and cities to be reachable. It was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, inaugurated in 1830, that truly marked the dawn of the railway age in Britain. Train tickets varied in types and pricing, making travel accessible to different social classes. Initially, only the wealthy could afford first-class tickets, but with the introduction of third-class carriages, train travel became a possibility for the working class. The number of people using trains surged throughout the Victorian era, reflecting the growing reliance on this mode of transport.

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Coffee houses, also known as cafés, come in a wide variety of styles and atmospheres.

Coffe Houses

It was a cozy and intimate setting with wodden furniture, soft lighting and a relaxed ambiance. They offer a space for discourse and debate. They were vibrant centers of intellectual life, politics and culture. They played a key role in the spread of Enlightenment ideas and fostered discussions that shaped the politics and literature of the age.

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