The Character of Credit Personal Debt in English Culture, 1740}}}1914 [Hardcover]

An exploration of personal credit and debt in English society from 1740 to 1914.Using a wide range of printed and manuscript sources, and paying particular attention to distinctions of gender and of class, Margot Finn examines English consumer culture from three interlocking perspectives: representations of debt in novels, diaries and autobiographical memoirs; the transformation of imprisonment for debt; and the use of small claims courts to mediate disputes between debtors and creditors. This major new study of personal debt from 1740 to 1914 will appeal to social, legal and cultural historians, literary scholars and those interested in the history of consumer culture.Using a wide range of printed and manuscript sources, and paying particular attention to distinctions of gender and of class, Margot Finn examines English consumer culture from three interlocking perspectives: representations of debt in novels, diaries and autobiographical memoirs; the transformation of imprisonment for debt; and the use of small claims courts to mediate disputes between debtors and creditors. This major new study of personal debt from 1740 to 1914 will appeal to social, legal and cultural historians, literary scholars and those interested in the history of consumer culture.Using a wide range of printed sources and paying particular attention to distinctions of gender and class, Margot Finn examines English consumer culture from three interlocking perspectives. Finn considers representations of debt in novels, diaries and autobiographical memoirs; the transformation of imprisonment for debt; and the use of small claims courts to mediate disputes between debtors and creditors. This major study of personal debt from 1740 to 1914 will appeal to social, legal and cultural historians, literary scholars and readers interested in the history of consumer culture.List of illustrations; List of tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Debt and Credit in English Mel“}