This comprehensive new study reads both major and lesser-known texts of the period 1700-1750 in their social, cultural, historical and intellectual contexts. Each chapter introduces and discusses a topic, such as travel, science, money and love, and reads a selection of texts in its light. Covering works by Congreve, Defoe, Mrs Manley, Addison, women poets, Swift, Pope, Fielding and Richardson, this is an invaluable and illuminating guide for students of the period.