TBR Pile Review: Sex and Sexuality in Georgian Britain, by Mike Rendell

Peek beneath the bedsheets of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Britain in this affectionate, informative and fascinating look at sex and sexuality during the reigns of Georges I-IV. It examines the prevailing attitudes towards male and female sexual behaviour, and the ways in which these attitudes were often determined by those in positions of power and authority. It also explores our ancestors’ ingenious, surprising, bizarre and often entertaining solutions to the challenges associated with maintaining a healthy sex life.

Did the people in Georgian Britain live up to their stereotypes when it came to sexual behaviour? This book will answer this question, as well as looking at fashion, food, science, art, medicine, magic, literature, love, politics, faith and superstition through a new lens, leaving the reader enlightened and with a new regard for the ingenuity and character of our ancestors.

My review

Hola people! I know, I know, I’ve been quiet for a month with only the odd scheduled post for stuff next year and reblogs from other people, but there’s a good reason for that. I’ve been busy reading the entries for the British Fantasy Society Award for best anthology, and work has been a bit busy. We had the official launch of The North East Lincolnshire Faraway Community Interest Company on Tuesday 1st December and I had to do a presentation plus help with a second presentation. There were lots of meetings. I spent Lockdown 2 busier than normal. Anyway, that’s all out of the way for now, although I have work stuff on the calendar for next year already, including a workshop series about reading and writing the modern fantasy novel, and an art exhibition, so I’m back to writing about the books I’ve been reading, and where better to start than with a book about my second favourite historical period in England and a subject that gets lots of people hot and bothered. Earlier in the year I reviewed a companion book to this, Sex and sexuality in Victorian Britain, by Violet Fenn, and I have another volume, but about Stuart Britain that will get reviewed eventually.

As ever, thanks to Rosie Crofts at Pen & Sword for the books.

The Rosie Synopsis

Rendell takes the reader on a journey through Georgian attitudes towards sex and sexuality, the laws and reality of people’s behaviour and social expectations.

The Good

This book was funny, at times, and for a slim volume is quite comprehensive. Since the period is one of my favourites and for a time was a ‘special interest’, I already knew about most of the content, personalities and scandals, but there were some things I hadn’t come across before.

This is a very easy book to read and is well-illustrated. The author rightly warns us against retroactively assigning sexualities to people and highlights the hypocrisy of the period when it comes to the law for men and women, rich and poor.

The Not-So-Good

Focuses on London with little mention of the rest of England, let alone the rest of Britain.

I got a slight feeling that the author holds some antipathy towards the LGBTQIA community.

The Verdict

Good introduction to the period, very easy to read and entertaining.