Remembering Anne Beach: Love, Scandal, and Sickness in Eighteenth-Century Britain

By: Carolyn Day

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Synopsis: Remembering Anne Beach pulls back the veil on the challenges of research, the problems of gaps in archives, and the long process involved in constructing historical narratives. Through the tragic tale of an ill-fated couple and their disapproving families, this microhistory explores not only forbidden love but also marriage, illness, death, disability, and scandal in eighteenth-century society. Drawing on the story of Anne Beach, the author sheds light on the lost experiences of early modern women as well as those with mental afflictions who have left us mere fragments of their lived experiences. In weaving a tragic narrative, Day also tackles the problem of archival silences and provides the reader with insight into the highs and lows of the research process. With charm and clarity, Day describes the frustration, skill, determination, obsession, and sheer luck required to be able to provide a diligent, more inclusive perception of our past.