City of laughter : sex and satire in eighteenth-century London /Vic Gatrell.

An in-depth examination of London life from the 1770s to the 1830s through the lens of bawdy, vulgar and ribald humour. The book focuses on social satire, gossip, scandal, fashion, and sexual mores, exploring Londoners' attitudes, 'low manners' and how the culture of politeness changed with the advent of the Victorian era. Gatrell draws upon satirical prints to analyse the history of manners, exploring the popularity of scatological jokes, and how gender and class impacted humour. The book contains nearly 300 prints and caricatures reproduced in colour on high-quality, glossy paper with works by James Gillray, Thomas Rowlandson, and George, Isaac and Robert Cruickshank featuring prominently. Extensively indexed, including lists of illustrations by chapter as well as by artist.