18th c Britain

Dave Postles (pot@leicester.ac.uk)
Tue, 10 Oct 1995 14:51:57 +0100

I've had success with _Albion's Fatal Tree_, a collection of pieces sympathetic
to the plight of the underclasses. I then have students read Langbein's
riposte, "Albion's Fatal Flaw" in Past and Present (1984?), introducing them
to lively historical debate. My students have also enjoyed _The Maul and the
Pear Tree_ (James and Crutchley). They actually read these assignments. I'd
suggest stopping at 1815, but all such demarcations are exasperating! If you
consider using fiction as a good hook for undergraduates, you might take a look
at Barry Unsworth's _Sacred Hunger_, set in the 1750s and about the slave trade.
My students were enthralled and didn't complain about the length. Good luck.
Elizabeth Furdell
efurdell%unf1vm@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu

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