Initially, Robert Peal’s Meet the Georgians reminded me of the Horrible Histories books with the use of colloquial language such as “p*ssed”; “how easy it is to look epic dressing like it’s 1725”; and describing Emma Hamilton as a “super-babe”. However, it is a proper history book, despite my expectations after the first few pages. Peal devotes each of the 12 chapters to an individual or couple who defied convention; had a tough life; and are interesting to read about centuries later. The characters are:
- Anne Bonny and Mary Read
- Bonnie Prince Charlie
- John Wilkes
- Tipu Sultan
- Olaudah Equiano
- Mary Wollstonecraft
- The Ladies of Llangollen
- Emma Hamilton
- Hester Stanhope
- Lord Byron
- Mary Anning
- James Watt
The book is topped and tailed with an introduction and a conclusion, both of which do a very good job indeed of putting the Georgian period in context. The Georgians followed the blight of the Civil War and the Stuart worries about whether a Protestant or Catholic monarch would be on the throne; and they were succeeded by the sober Victorians. As Peal writes, there was “… an intense relief that the seventeenth century, with all its violence and religious conflict, was over”. People could have differing (or no) religious opinions without being killed because of them. The relief was intense and Peal’s description, “…madcap Georgians hit our history books like a double expresso downed before breakfast”, works well.

The chapters are just the right length: short enough to read two or three an evening, but with quite a lot of relevant detail. Most importantly, they are written in an easy-to-read style that imparts information lightly. The reader wants to hear more about the characters. And that’s the secret: all these people were CHARACTERS in capitals. They were one-offs. They were oddballs who left an impact upon the world, one way or another.

I was aware of many of the characters, but Peal does an excellent job of bringing them to life. I knew of Wilkes, the politician and campaigner. I didn’t know of Wilkes, the man who was so ugly that children would run away crying. “Cross-eyed and short-sighted, his large, overhanging nose and forward-jutting jaw caused his mouth to purse and the bottom row of teeth to stick out.” Yet Wilkes had bucketloads of charm and was very successful with women. That does more to bring him to life than a dozen traditional history text books!

This would be a great present for someone who has even a slight interest in history. I hope Mr Peal write more books.

# MeetTheGeorgians #Netgalley

If you’ve fallen in love with all things Bridgerton, then Meet the Georgians by Robert Peal is the perfect book for you! This entertaining and easy-to-read book consists of short yet informative biographies about twelve people who shaped the era. Although this book covers well-known names such as Byron and Lady Hamilton, I was particularly fascinated by the less celebrated figures, such as Tipu Sultan and Olaudah Equiano who don’t feature in the mainstream media and literature.

Peal successfully demonstrates that the famous description of Byron as ‘mad, bad and dangerous’ was applicable to the Georgian era as a whole. Not yet weighed down by administering the Empire as the Victorians later were, the Georgian period was one of outrageous behaviour, reckless courage and curiosity. It was fascinating to read how individuals, such as Equiano, were able to shape the direction of an entire nation and, in this instance for example, directly contribute to the abolitionist movement. Peal also shows how, in contrast to the prudish Victorians, the Georgians had a bawdy sense of humour, even establishing an infamous farting club. There are times when I feel that Peal is a little too casual in his descriptions, referring to Bonnie Prince Charlie as that ‘arrogant little twerp’ but I appreciate this a personal preference and I’m sure other readers will enjoy his light, conversational tone.

I would definitely recommend this book to history lovers, particularly young adults, who will be surprised by how much they learn while also having a marvellous time! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to thank Net Galley and the publisher, William Collins, for the opportunity to review this book.

I'm always in the market for some engaging historical non-fiction and jumped at the chance to read 'Meet the Georgians' by Robert Peal. Although my preferred historical period is the Victorians, I am intererested in what came before - especially, as an English teacher, key Georgian literary figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Lord Byron, both of whom feature here.

I was also intrigued to read that the author is a fellow teacher - reading about his various publications and interests made me wonder what on earth I have been doing with my time. I'm certainly not being as productive!

This book features the life stories of twelve key Georgians (well, technically 14 as a couple of chapters focus on pairs). These range from pirates (Anne Bonny and Mary Read) to royalty (Bonnie Prince Charlie and Tipu Sultan), from writers (already mentioned) to inventors (James Watt). What unites these characters is that they had fascinating lives and often defied the expectations of their time - there are some real eccentrics and innovators here!

Peal keeps each key figure to one chapter, although there is also an introduction and conclusion that help to place these people within the wider context of the Georgian era. I liked that his selection included some recognisable figures but also some that were perhaps less well-known - the chapter on the rebellious Hester Stanhope was a revelation and she sounded fabulous! I also knew very little of James Watt before this book and really warmed to the grumpy inventor whose legacy is impressive. The story of Olaudah Equiano, former slave, was also new to me and absolutely fascinating.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the focus on forgotten women of the Georgian era - women are the focus of half the chapters in this book which I really appreciated, Alongside the women already mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the ladies of Llangollen, possibly Britain's first openly lesbian couple, plus the stories of Lady Hamilton and Mary Anning.

Peal's style is informal and chatty - something I liked, although I was sometimes a bit startled to come across assertions that Emma Hamilton was a 'certified super-babe' or references to Blackbeard's tricks to 'scare the cr*p' out of his victims. This gave a sense of easy humour to the book and helped with the idea that this is a light-hearted beginners' guide to the Georgians - it isn't targeted at the historian, but more the casual reader (although the 'Further Reading' section at the end would help with next steps for those who want to read more).

For those not yet sold on the book (and you should be), it is worth mentioning Peal's argument that the Georgian era was a time of debauchery and wild living before the respectability of the Victorian age. This book is certainly packed with those who lived large and free - often rather surprisingly for the reader given the moral crackdown that followed. I really hope that 'Meet the Victorians' is currently being written...

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know a bit more about the Georgian era and some of its larger-than-life characters. I'm no slouch on my history and yet I learnt so much from this book. Pick up a copy now - it will fill you with fascinating facts, give you some new heroes and put you definitively off Byron forever!

A wonderful book that looks at the Georgian period up to Victorian times. I am never quite sure why the Victorian era held so much fascination and attention and why the Georgian period is not known about in the same way. This book takes us through the lives of 12 people (and a couple more). It puts them in context to the period they were living in. Looking at the bigger picture, the author uses humour and the book becomes very readable. It is something different from the usual historical accounts/biographies of the time.
I wondered could there be any similarities to the 1960's? I don't really think so but that flashed into my mind.
We know for most people life in Georgian times wasn't like like how these characters lived but some Georgians didn't conform along the way. It is fascinating to see how some people got on, how they didn't seem to feel guilty about the way they lived and how they got away with things in contrast to others.
This book shows the diverse lives of 12 people whose names we are mostly familiar with. It wasn't at all how I expected the story to be told. It was very much a fun book and a great pleasure to read.

#MeetTheGeorgians taught me so many new things!

By telling the stories of key figures of the age, it shows what life was like then & the impact that this period of history has on today’s world.

I hope I get to ‘Meet The Victorians’ very soon! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

My thanks to William Collins for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Meet the Georgians: Epic Tales from Britain’s Wildest Century’ by Robert Peal in exchange for an honest review.

Robert Peal is a history teacher and the author of the Knowing History textbook series for use in Secondary Schools.

In ‘Meet the Georgians’ he provides an overview of the Georgian era through the examination of twelve diverse people whose lives defined it. Some of these were already known to me, while others were new. In addition, there is an introduction and conclusion. Following the main text Peal presents further reading for each of the fourteen chapters.

While it’s not quite ‘Horrible Histories’, Peal presents the history of this riotous period with a light touch and plenty of wit. Yet he also covers more serious issues such as widespread poverty, social injustice, the slave trade and Britain’s continuing colonial ambitions.

I found this book both informative and entertaining. In his Conclusion Peal writes about the cultural transition from the Georgians to the Victorians and hints that there might be a ‘Meet the Victorians’. Yes, please!

I feel that ‘Meet the Georgians’ will appeal to those interested in learning more about this period of British history as well as to librarians and educators.

A highly entertaining, informative and engrossing history book that made me learn something new in an entertaining way.
The stories of Georgian characters and a general picture of the time are written in a witty way and I loved them.
It's a book you can read in one setting or a story at a time.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My thanks to William Collins and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.

The Georgian Era or the period between 1714 and the 1830s when the four Georges ruled England, as the author Robert Peal tells us, was set apart from the preceding Stuarts and succeeding Victorians, both sterner and duller (at least on the surface), by its relative political stability, merry-making and fun loving people, relaxed morals, and extravagant and colourful fashions. Spices and new delicacies from chocolate to chilli were entering the markets, the Empire was growing, but at the same time important political victories were also being won by the people.

Meet the Georgians explores this vibrant period in English history, but not by simply telling the story of the period, but by looking at the lives and stories of twelve personalities (in some cases, sets of personalities) from different walks of life who represent different facets of the period. These women and men include pirates and politicians, poets and adventurers, rebels and claimants to the throne, inventors and discoverers.

While some of these very much represented the age—like John Wiles and Byron who certainly were rakes—others rebelled against convention managing to live the lives they wanted or at least of their own making. Anne Bonny and Mary Read with their unusual upbringings (both were dressed by their respective fathers as boys) went on to become pirates that terrorized the seas from the pirate country of Nassau. On the other hand, Sarah Ponsonby and Eleanor Butler, ‘the ladies of Llangollen’, brought up in conventional Irish families, rejected conventional life, and moved to Wales where they created for themselves an idyllic rural retreat. Mary Wollestonecraft, who wrote in defence of the rights of women, Mary Anning, the ‘fossil hunter’, who contributed to geology and palaeontology, and Lady Hester Stanhope who travelled the world, ending up as a mystic in Syria, too lived their lives defiance of all convention.

John Wilkes may have been a rake but he won for people the right to criticize government. James Watt, in contrast suffered depression and personal and financial trouble for a large part of his life, but his creation of a more efficient and workable steam engine not only revolutionised the world, but also brought him wealth he had never had. Olaudah Equiano was sold into slavery but rose to wealth and prominence bringing before people the reality of Britain’s slave trade in his book. Also making her own way from rags to riches was Emma Lyon, who rose from humble beginnings to become Lady Hamilton, who could count among her friends, royalty. Tipu Sultan, the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ held his own against the East India Company which could only gain victory in its fourth attempt. But Charles III or Bonnie Prince Charles didn’t quite consider the advice given him, failing to regain the throne for the Stuarts. Byron too, failed in battle, but his poetry remains widely read to this day.

I loved the refreshing approach that the author has taken in the book of tracing the story of an age through its people—and what an interesting collection of people he has picked. Some were ‘known’ to me while others weren’t but each was fascinating in their own way. While some may have been more flamboyant than others, each had a distinct personality and all led unusual (and very interesting) lives, together taking us to different corners of the world.

It was interesting that though Peal has devoted an equal number of chapters to men and women, there did end up being more women than men he has talked about (with Anne Bonny and Mary Read; Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler working/living in pairs). What stood out about most, in fact, all of the women here was how they questioned, or flouted, or lived their lives contrary to convention, and relatively successfully in a sense, in an age where women had few rights and could opt for few occupations. And still, there was a level of acceptance of the paths they chose.

The author has kept the tone and writing light-hearted and humorous throughout which makes for very easy and enjoyable reading. Some of the word choices weren’t so appealing though. Also while the book is labelled adult non-fiction, it seems more geared to a younger (perhaps teen) audience.

Still, I found it to be a really interesting read, as colourful as the people it is about. 4.25 stars.

*Many thanks to Robert Peale, William Collins, and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Having read several books on the Georgians, I was nicely surprised to find stories of some people I have never heard before. This is a good collection of tales of those who lived under the Hanoverians and did most unusual things and had extraordinary lives. Not only Lord Byron left his mark on the period.
This non-fiction is easy to read and provides detailed descriptions of some figures who definitely deserve our memory.

A most enjoyable, witty and let's not forget educational read! I think this book can be a great way to attract teens to history. But it is definitely not only a read for teens, not at all. It is a delight to read regardless of you age and you may even learn a new thing or two.
I would love to see this made into a series(*patiently waiting for 'Meet the Victorians' to be made a reality :D)

I really enjoyed this book, which is perfect for those with a casual interest in history. The stories of each of these Georgian notable figures are lively, amusing and entertaining but also informative, and cover a good range of people from different walks of life - inventors, freed slaves, a lesbian couple, social climbing ladies, and of course Lord Byron because he has to pop up everywhere. It definitely challenges the notion that we have that all historic people were stuffy and boring.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Before reading this book I didn't know a great deal about the Georgians...but here I am now wishing I was a fly on the wall during the whole era. Full of debauchery and raucous behaviour, a bit too much to drink, a few too many parties and extra marital liaisons, it certainly wasn't a boring piece of history. I appreciated how Peal balanced out the reckless, laugh out loud moments with the darker side of slavery, abandoned women and infant mortality amongst many more. It was an extremely well balanced and informative look into a part of history that sometimes gets glossed over. I particularly loved the chapter on the Ladies of Llangollen which is a bit of local history for me and also (years ago) I read a book on the Ladies and I wrote a letter to Plas Newydd House and they posted it on their noticeboard. I don't know whether it's cringe or cute. This must be 20 plus years ago by the way, not last year, FYI. Roll on the next book, I can't wait to Meet the Victoria's.

Thank you @netgalley and @4thestatebooks and @wmcollinsbooks for the ARC in return for an honest review. Meet the Georgians is out on July 8th 2021.

I enjoyed the author’s introduction to the book which gives context to the time and the lives of those explored further in later chapters..

He’s chosen an engaging mix of people; lady pirates in Nassau, a slave, a sultan, an author, unconventional ladies and more. Each have a highly interesting and engaging story to tell and on the whole I enjoyed the book. It’s one to dip into with a coffee and the chapters fly by. The written style seems to target maybe a YA audience. I wasn’t keen on use if ‘crap’ and other colloquial descriptions, but if that helps to make the title more accessible to a wider audience, then I guess it’s OK. It seems well researched and it gives a taste of life and colour to this era, often ignored.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I’m fascinated by the Georgians so was delighted to be sent an ARC of this book .which tells the story of 12 key figures of the age, but not all are necessarily people you might have heard of.
I wasn’t surprised to learn that the author is a history teacher ,as he writes in a very easily accessible, conversational style using some colloquial language which I think would appeal to younger readers as well as anyone interested in the period.The individual essays are all fairly short but extremely informative ,and the opening and closing sections are particularly interesting .
It’s a very easy ,enjoyable read for anyone who would like to know more about the Georgians and definitely one to recommend to those who enjoy history.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley .

The Georgian period is told in the form of stories from several Georgians, each having a very different perspective. Also there is an intriguing bit at the beginning that introduces the Georgian and their colourful world, where spices like cinnamon were brought in in large quantities for the first time, also fruits such as pineapple. The tales of life in the Georgian period included someone who was about to be executed being trailed around first, so that he could drink with the crowd. Also the unforgettable farting club. Make up was worn and bright clothing, in a period that shines, just before the Victorian age. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the period, and even those who are not yet familiar with it.

This is a really interesting collection of shorter stories of different famous individuals from Georgian times. It wasn't at all what I expected, but in a good way, and made a good book to pick up when you have a spare 10 mins to read someone's story, without having to worry about being caught up in a larger story, as they're all stand alone. I learnt some interesting facts I didn't already know, and enjoyed the way the author told the stories of their lives. I would recommend, and hope the author considers writing more like this, but set in other eras also

Georgian era, between 1714 and the 1830s, was era full of fast changes; new foods, such as pepper, pineapple, chocolate, spices, chillies and coffee became available, fashion was colourful and exaggerated, alcohol (especially gin) consumed in vast quantities, British Empire expanded and with it human rights, questions about God, freedom, celebration of sex and much more.

The author introduces this era through lives of twelve Georgian people who defined it. Pirates, prince, former slave, women, poets and others, all exceptional in their competence area.

The book is full of facts, funny stories, witt, entertainment, education and captivates all history lovers.

And ... maybe you will consider to join the "farting" club, whose members met once a week in order to "poison the neighbouring air with their unsavoury crepitations." ;)