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English Society in the Eighteenth Century, Second Edition (The Penguin Social History of Britain)
by Roy Porter
from Penguin (Non-Classics)
Customer Reviews:
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Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 
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Great historic review 
I really enjoyed this book. I love history and this adds to my knowledge.
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Helpful History
Both as a student of history and a "wannabe" writer of historical fiction, I find Mr. Porter's book an excellent reference.
His unique style keeps the information both interesting and entertaining; not the usual dry material we expect in historical records. I highly recommend this vivid narrative to anyone interested in England in the fascinating 18th century.
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History Repeats Itself 
The good thing about this book is, as another reviewer has put it, that its author is a "writer who happens to be an historian" rather than vice-versa. ---In other words, it has an authorial voice----Unfortunately, that's also the not so good thing about it. While we are kept turning the pages with droll quips and the like, the attentive reader won't fail to notice that these quips become repetitive. Not only that, but Porter uses the same citations to make exactly the same point in different chapters.... more info
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Disappointing and irritating 
Oh, yes, there are a lot of other reviewers who like this book, but I found it somewhat nauseating. Porter's book, originally published in 1990, does not fail to reflect the author's prejudices, which are cattily expressed in a barely concealed yet perfectly clear professorial snobbishness as regards the "elites" of 18th c. England. As the son and grandson of university academics, perhaps I find myself over-sensitive to this sort of thing, but one cannot but wonder if Roy Porter isn't subject to just a bit... more info
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