Yale University Press Paperback English
Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune
How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen's England
By Rory Muir
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A portrait of Jane Austen’s England told through the career paths of younger sons—men of good family but small fortune In Regency England the eldest son usually inherited almost everything while his younger brothers, left with little inheritance, had to make a crucial decision: What should they do to make an independent living? Rory Muir weaves together the stories of many obscure and well-known young men, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Regency society. This is the first scholarly yet accessible exploration of the lifestyle and prospects of these younger sons.
A portrait of Jane Austen’s England told through the career paths of younger sons—men of good family but small fortune In Regency England the eldest son usually inherited almost everything while his younger brothers, left with little inheritance, had to make a crucial decision: What should they do to make an independent living? Rory Muir weaves together the stories of many obscure and well-known young men, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Regency society. This is the first scholarly yet accessible exploration of the lifestyle and prospects of these younger sons.