Uproar! Satire, Scandal and Printmakers in Georgian London

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​After some ho-hum experiences with reading recently, I think I need to start two new categories of book reviews – either DNF (did not finish) or STF (struggled to finish) – and just admit I’ve been defeated.

I’m a keen follower of Alice Loxton on her various social media channels. Her youthful enthusiasm and knowledge of quirky British history are refreshing in a subject too often fronted by middle-aged, over-exposed and jaded presenters. When she announced publication of her book on the 18th Century caricaturists and satirists, I looked forward to an entertaining and informative read. I even envisaged something along the lines of ‘orrible ‘istories. [or Horrible Histories]

Unfortunately, I'm disappointed. On the one hand, some of the book reflects the author’s peppy presentation style with witty asides but, on the other, a lot of it is dry and dense and doesn’t reflect her persona. It makes me wonder if there was someone else involved in researching and writing up the duller passages to link the more lively ones together.

Then there’s the subject matter. The style of humour in the cartoons can be hard to find outrageous or funny 200 years later. It helps if you have a good grasp of British politics, society and personalities of the time but even that doesn’t save it from turning into a soup of facts. (I was shocked when I found myself re-living long-forgotten struggles for my school-leaving history exam and tearing my hair out trying to get a handle on the machinations of the Prince Regent, Walpole, Fox, Lord North and those pesky Pitts – elder and younger.)

At the half-way mark, I am undecided and therefore no stars as yet. Perhaps I’ll keep going and at least it will turn into a STF.

​So far, it’s serving as a useful aide for insomnia.

I hope Loxton’s next outing as an author is more promising than this.


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