Anstey, Christopher.  "Liberality or The Decayed Macaroni, A Sentimental Piece."  The Second Edition.
        Printed for the Author: And sold by Messrs. Dodsley, Robson, Cadell, and Dilly, London; Prince and Cook,
        at Oxford; Merril, at Cambridge; and Hazard, at Bath, [1790?].

A little known poem by the author of The New Bath Guide, which humorously chronicles the life of a man who, after living well above his income and failing to secure a pension, is left penniless in his old age. At the end of the poem, the Macaroni, a term used in eighteenth-century England to describe a young man of fashion, resolves to go to Bath where he can appeal for financial support from the rich and, in turn, live "genteelly" for the rest of his life. Anstey's introduction to the poem details the purpose for the poem: "The following stanzas were written with a view of putting many humane but incautious people upon their guard against frequent artifices of very unworthy petitioners for pecuniary assistance" (1). Although the poem's success was minimal (Anstey published it anonymously towards the end of his life), it is a perfect example of the light-hearted satire that made Anstey famous.

A Compilation of Christopher Anstey's most popular and influential works, prefaced by a short, but informative, history of his life by his son John.  Because information is scarce regarding Christopher Anstey in general, the introduction should prove useful to those studying his life or his works.  It is important to note that although the collection is supposed to contain the complete works of Anstey, the omission of certain controversial pieces such as "The Priest Dissected," seems to indicate a bias on the part of the author.  Despite this fact, John Anstey's book seems to be the best source for biographical material on an author who has practically been forgotten.

A novel by one of the most celebrated authors in history which explores notions of love and class in Eighteenth-century England. Austen's focus on Bath and its inhabitants affords the reader a microscopic look into the lives of genteel society and those unfortunate enough not to be a part of it.  The Elliot family's relatively painless removal to Bath because of "financial difficulties," illustrates the hope that Bath gave to all classes trying to sustain their position on or move up the ladder of financial security.  Lady Russell, in her attempts to salvage what she can of Sir Walter's name and money, convinces him and Elizabeth that in retiring to Bath: "[T]hey should lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there" (11). This image of Bath as refuge provides a context in which to place Christopher Anstey's poem "The Decayed Macaroni" when, at the end, the central character "hastens to Bath" to retain and maintain his leisurely lifestyle.

An examination of eighteenth-century Bath verse in terms of its satire, from light-hearted frivolity in the early spa collections, to savage rhetoric in the latter part of the century. Bishop asserts that the "wide clientele" and the "pleasure-season" at Bath gave many moralists and satirists plenty of material from which to mount an attack of wit.  A figure that many artists poked fun at was the Macaroni who, according to the author, was an "effeminate dandy" whose masculinity was suspect. Like most of the satire produced by Bath, the poems Bishop includes are lively and full of "light humorous verse." Only a few scathingly satirical poems like “The Diseases of Bath” saw success during the eighteenth-century, and by its end, "the gradual decline of Bath itself from the pre-eminent position as the centre of fashionable life outside London certainly diminished the attractions it had once held for satirists of the social scene" (75).  Bishop's fairly comprehensive survey of Bath satire includes a myriad of paintings and etchings that caricature some of Bath's most notorious figures.

A social history of Bath which attempts to reconstruct the lives of every-day citizens since the Georgian Period.  The authors try to re-envision Bath's history by rejecting the traditional commercialization of that history which they say "continues to overemphasize its most saleable assets: the Roman and Georgian periods, the famous visitors, the elegant architecture, and the 'heroic' contribution of Ralph Allen, Beau Nash, and John Wood" (2). Chapters three and four are particularly useful to those interested in eighteenth-century Bath society. Chapter three details the "fashionable company" present in Bath from 1700-1820, while chapter four examines the role that "beggars, rogues, and vagabonds" played during the same time period. The book is unique in that it provides little known facts about daily life that seem to be overlooked in many of the other sources that concentrate on Bath history.

A poem chronicling the life and characteristics of the eighteenth-century phenomenon, the Bath Macaroni. Like many of the poems dedicated to the subject, Madden humorously satirizes the group of frivolous dandies, so abundant in England during the late 1700s, who spent money lavishly and traveled excessively. According to Philippa Bishop, Madden gives “the most rounded portrait of the type,…the effeminate dandy who, because of his vanity, helps to cast doubt on his masculinity” (Bishop 57).  It is interesting to note that Madden is one of the few authors of the time to actually sign his name to his work.  At the end of the poem, he chastises all writers who do not claim ownership of the work they write:  “All anonymous Writers are, and ought to be, unworthy of an answer” (17).

A pamphlet by an anonymous Member of Parliament meant to dissuade all members of English society from practicing the evils of gaming. It zealously calls for radical reformation and provides an outline for the British to follow so they can "lay the ax to the root of gambling!"  The author asserts that all citizens are responsible for the "fraud, avarice, and deceit" that gambling insites in the populous, but places most of the blame on the House of Commons and the House of Lords. He chastises these members of government for their pompous speeches and hollow intentions regarding what he considers to be the cause of "every misfortune which has lately fallen on" Britain. Due to the prominence of gambling in eighteenth-century Bath, this short work is a valuable first hand account of the controversial debate on the subject.  The tract, however, presents only one side of the discussion on gambling.  Therefore, Hints For a Reform might prove most useful when compared with other treatises on gambling, especially those specific to Bath.

An ambitious treatise on the people, places, and history of Bath from Roman times to the present, with the largest portion devoted to Eighteenth-century Bath.  Bath's Pump Room becomes the imaginary place Hinde creates to tell his tales about "the most interesting, amusing, or scandalous personalities and events" of Bath society and also to tell "the often equally astonishing truth which lay behind them"(12). Throughout the work, colorful anecdotes about "regular"citizens provide the reader with valuable insights into the daily life of Eighteenth-century Bath and, at the same time, give the reader a historical framework in which to place many major figures, writers, and events. Because of its easy navigability and whimsical prose style, Tales from the Pump Room should be both useful and enjoyable reading for anyone interested in the inner-workings of eighteenth-century Bath.

An expansive socio-economic treatise of the rise and fall of eighteenth-century Bath, England’s most famous resort town.  In the words of the author, “the theme of this book is the influence of consumption on the production of Bath and the influence of production on consciousness as shown in its social organization of space and in its social movements” (11).  Throughout the book, Neale explores and defines the relationships between all the various classes in Bath, from the elite ruling class to the laboring poor and, in turn, examines their relationships to “property, land, labor, money, credit and business enterprise” (11).  Although vast in its scope, Neale’s book is the best all-inclusive study available for today’s Bath enthusiast.
 

A satirical collection of epistolary poems written in various verse forms describing the experiences of the Blunderhead family on their trip to bath.  The work carries over the satirical social verse made so popular by Sift and pope, though it is far more light and congenial than either.  Hailed by critics and loved by the public, Anstey's most successful piece is a humorous critique “of the customs of Bath and of the amusements and activities of those who resort there for the purposes of health, fashion or society” (15).  The new edition with notes and introduction by Gavin Turner contains three extremely useful sections of commentary titled:  “Christopher Anstey—Life and other Works,” “The New Bath Guide and Eighteenth-Century Bath,” and “Poetic Revision—The Epilogue.” Anstey’s poem is essential for both lovers and researchers of Bath.