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- Title
The ‘Mene Peuple’ and the Polite Spectator: The Individual in the Crowd at Eighteenth-Century London Fairs*.
- Authors
Heller, Benjamin
- Abstract
The article discusses how people from various social groups conducted themselves at fairs in 18th-century London, England, in particular the Bartholomew Fair. In contrast to historical accounts describing crowds of fairgoers as chaotic and socially heterogenous, yet united in the common enjoyment of amusements and attractions, the article discusses personal accounts showing that people consciously separated themselves in terms of social groups and motivations. The trend over the course of the century toward social elites separating themselves from and avoiding fair crowds is discussed as part of developing manners and customs and notions of social respectability.
- Subjects
ENGLAND; LONDON (England); FAIRS; CROWDS; GROUP identity; SOCIAL consciousness; EIGHTEENTH century; MANNERS &; customs
- Publication
Past & Present, 2010, Vol 208, Issue 1, p131
- ISSN
0031-2746
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/pastj/gtq006