In the 1790s, Britain underwent what the politician Edmund Burke called ‘the most important of all revolutions…a revolution in sentiments’. Inspired by the French Revolution, British radicals concocted new political worlds to enshrine healthier, more productive, human emotions and relationships. The Enlightenment’s wildest hopes crested in the utopian projects of such optimists – including the young poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the philosophers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, the physician Thomas Beddoes and the first photographer Thomas Wedgwood – who sought to reform sex, education, commerce, politics and medicine by freeing desire from repressive constraints. But by the middle of the decade, the wind had changed. The French Revolution descended into bloody Terror and the British government quashed radical political activities. In the space of one decade, feverish optimism gave way to bleak disappointment, and changed the way we think about human need and longing. A Revolution of Feeling is a vivid and absorbing account of the dramatic end of the Enlightenment, the beginning of an emotional landscape preoccupied by guilt, sin, failure, resignation and repression, and the origins of our contemporary approach to feeling and desire. Above all, it is the story of the human cost of political change, of men and women consigned to the ‘wrong side of history’. But although their revolutionary proposals collapsed, that failure resulted in its own cultural revolution – a revolution of feeling – the aftershocks of which are felt to the present day.
Dive into the tumultuous world of late 18th-century Britain with Rachel Hewitt's captivating "A Revolution of Feeling: The Decade that Forged the Modern Mind." This meticulously researched and vividly written history explores the dramatic shift in societal values and emotional landscape that occurred during the 1790s, a period profoundly shaped by the French Revolution and its reverberations across the English Channel. Hewitt masterfully unveils a society grappling with radical new ideas, fueled by Enlightenment ideals and a fervent desire for political and social reform. Inspired by the promise of liberty, equality, and fraternity, British radicals including luminaries like the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, philosophers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, physician Thomas Beddoes, and pioneering photographer Thomas Wedgwood dared to envision a utopian future free from the constraints of tradition and repression. They sought to revolutionize everything from sex and education to commerce, politics, and medicine, believing that human potential could be unleashed by liberating desire and fostering healthier relationships. "A Revolution of Feeling" paints a compelling portrait of these ambitious thinkers and their audacious experiments. Hewitt delves into their intellectual pursuits, personal lives, and the intricate networks that connected them, revealing the hopes, dreams, and passionate convictions that drove their revolutionary fervor. Readers will encounter a fascinating cast of characters, each striving to create a better world according to their own unique vision. However, the initial optimism was short-lived. As the French Revolution descended into the Reign of Terror, and the British government cracked down on radical political activities, the prevailing mood shifted dramatically. The once-bright promise of utopian reform gave way to disillusionment, fear, and a profound sense of loss. Hewitt expertly traces this transformation, revealing how the events of the decade reshaped British society and laid the foundation for a new emotional order. This is not merely a political history; it is a deeply human story about the cost of change and the enduring power of emotions. Hewitt explores how the failure of these revolutionary projects led to a new emphasis on guilt, sin, failure, resignation, and repression. She argues that this period marked the birth of our modern preoccupation with feeling and desire, shaping the way we understand ourselves and our relationships to this day. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and pamphlets, Hewitt provides a rich and nuanced account of this pivotal decade. She demonstrates how the events of the 1790s not only transformed British politics and society but also profoundly altered the inner lives of individuals. "A Revolution of Feeling" is a compelling and insightful exploration of the origins of the modern mind, offering a fresh perspective on a period that continues to resonate with contemporary concerns. More than just a historical account, "A Revolution of Feeling" provides a timely and relevant exploration of how society's grandest political and social changes deeply affect the emotional and psychological well-being of the individual. By understanding the past, we can better grapple with the complex emotional landscape of the present and forge a more informed path towards the future. Perfect for readers interested in British history, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the history of emotions, and the intersection of politics and culture, this book offers a compelling and thought-provoking journey into the heart of a transformative decade. Prepare to be captivated by the stories of those who dared to dream of a better world and the revolution of feeling that continues to shape our lives today.
