NEWS! Zadie Smith is reading “excellent” Peterloo see The Times Review Sat 9 April 2022.
NEWS! Jacqueline’s major new biography of William Hogarth, Hogarth: Life in Progress (Profile) is the Sunday Times Art Book of the Year 2021!
Signed copies of Hogarth: Life in Progress are now available at the National Gallery (London) Waterstones (Piccadilly) Hatchards (Piccadilly) Daunts (Marylebone) Sir John Soane’s Museum and Tate Britain shop. You can also buy it online via Hive and support your local bookshop.
Linda Colley, Princeton and author of Britons and The Gun the Ship & the Pen: ‘In this marvellous and timely new biography, Jacqueline Riding makes sensitive and imaginative use of a wide range of often difficult and neglected sources, offering in the process a vivid and compelling reconstruction of the settings of Hogarth’s life and artistic achievements, and of the nature of the man.’
Gus Casely-Hayford, V&A East, Sky Arts: ‘If you are not familiar with the particular genius of Hogarth, this is the book through which to discover it. And if you are a fellow Hogarth fanatic then you are in for an exquisite treat. This is a special book that drops you heart first into Hogarth’s world – like the great man’s canvasses, it is full of richness, originality and considered humour, unafraid to shock with thrilling new insight.’
Michael Prodger, Sunday Times: ‘deft’, ‘perceptive and richly detailed.’
Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday: ‘Hogarth understands that life is never one thing or another but always in progress’: Jacqueline Riding’s new biography is excellent.’
George Goodwin, London Historians: ‘[Hogarth] was far more than a mere depicter of his age and an artist of skill and talent. He was also a complex and active human being who was living within the society he drew. As such, he is worthy of a thorough and considered biography that captures the man of the time as well as the artist. That is exactly what Jacqueline Riding has brilliantly provided … ‘This book … is of the highest value in showing there was so much more to Hogarth than “Gin Lane”, but in also explaining exactly why he was able to create such a lasting image of his times.’ Read the full review here
Jacqueline specialises in British history and art of the long eighteenth century. She is an experienced adviser and consultant for museums, historic buildings and film. She was the historical and art historical consultant for Mike Leigh’s award-winning feature film Mr. Turner (2014), his latest film Peterloo (2018) and Wash Westmorland’s Colette (Number 9 Films) starring Kiera Knightley and Dominic West. Jacqueline discussed her work on Peterloo at the London School of Economics in March 2019, the recording is available here. Her tie-in book Peterloo: The Story of the Manchester Massacre (Head of Zeus) described by The Guardian as ‘quite simply magnificent’ is out in paperback (more reviews below). Her previous book Jacobites: A New History of the ’45 Rebellion (Bloomsbury 2016) was the winner of the Silver Award, Military History Monthly Magazine and described by Colin Kidd in The Guardian as “a fresh and historically convincing perspective”, “an enthralling narrative”, “a work of penetrating insight and dispassionate balance, which is captivating from start to finish.” Listen to Jacqueline talking about Charles Edward Stuart on the History Extra (BBC History Magazine) podcast published to coincide with the 300th anniversary of his birth in Dec 2020. Support independent bookshops by ordering Jacobites here and Peterloo here via Bookshop.org.
On Peterloo: The Story of the Manchester Massacre –
‘Gripping … quite simply magnificent: splendidly researched, thoroughly well written, and very difficult to put down.’ John Barrell, The Guardian
‘A superb account of one of the defining moments in modern British history.’ Tristram Hunt.
‘Peterloo is one of the greatest scandals of British political history … Jacqueline Riding tells this tragic story with mesmerising skill.’ Professor John Bew, author of Citizen Clem.
‘Fast-paced and full of fascinating detail.’ Tim Clayton, author of Waterloo.
‘This is the best single account of the massacre of August 1819. A brilliant piece of historical research that sets the event in the wider political and social context and which brings to life the tragic events of August 16. This is the book to turn to for anyone interested in learning what happened in Manchester on that day and why Peterloo continues to resonate today.’ Michael Powell, Chetham’s Library
‘Vivid, engrossing and well-research’, ‘an evocative account’, ‘gripping and intellectually robust’, ‘[Mike Leigh’s] film and Riding’s excellent accompanying book will rightly heighten public awareness of the events of 16 August 1819’. Professor Ted Vallance, BBC History Magazine
‘Jacqueline Riding lets the evidence speak for itself, and in doing so produces a cool and even-handed indictment of the authorities and the soldiers at St Peter’s Field that is far more devastating than any emotional rant,’ ‘cleverly structured’, ‘the sequence of events that Riding lays out in forensic details is shocking’, ‘The Peterloo story … is one that deserves to be remembered as a less than glorious chapter in our island history. No one has told it better.’ Saul David, Literary Review
‘Careful, closely researched … a fascinating and moving story … [Riding] does a fine job of putting the event into context.’ Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times
Her book, drawing on her PhD thesis, Basic Instincts: Love, Passion and Violence in the Art of Joseph Highmore (Paul Holberton Publishing), was published to accompany the exhibition at the Foundling Museum (29 Sept 2017 – 7 Jan 2018). It can be ordered here. “[Basic Instincts] brings Joseph Highmore out of the shadows.” – Apollo Magazine. Read more reviews for Basic Instincts here.
