Working Like A Dog, and a Horse, and a Cow in 18th Century London with Tom Almeroth-Williams

Making of a Historian · Working Like A Dog, and a Horse, and a Cow in 18th Century London with Tom Almeroth-Williams

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This week we discuss Tom Almeroth-Williams’ book, City of Beasts—now out in a reasonably priced paperback—which looks at how people and animals worked together in 18th century London. We talk about cows, horses, the great geese herds of Christmastime, and why people in London sometimes just wanted to spend some time outside on their horses. The conversation is really fun—as is Almeroth-Williams’ book. But it’s serious, too. In taking an animal perspective of labor in 18th century London, Almeroth-Williams’ pushes us to change the way we look at the Industrial Revolution, social life, and consumer society.

And we have a new Twitter handle, as I’m disambiguating my personal and podcast twitter selves. You can also follow us on Facebook.

Bateman sugar tongs made by a horse-powered mill. From Tom’s personal collection.

Further Reading

Tom Almeroth-Williams on twitter.

Ingrid Tague, Animal Companions.

Keith Thomas, Man and the Natural World

London Lives online project and book.

Deborah Valenze, Milk

Emily Cockayne, Hubbub: Filth, Noise and Stench in England

Julie Flavell, When London was the Capital of America

Diana Donald, Picturing Animals in Britain

Andrew Robichaud, Animal City: The Domestication of America

Tim Hitchcock Down and Out in Eighteenth Century London

David Edgerton, the Shock of the Old