Seeing and Hearing

"Seeing and Hearing" by George William Erskine Russell is a collection of social commentaries that look at British society during the early 1900s, using personal feelings and societal criticism to examine happenings like coronations and cultural views. The book starts with a vivid picture of King Edward VII's coronation, mixing national identity, religion, and how people felt about it all as Russell highlights the importance of these ceremonies and how they connect to the past. This serious subject is then contrasted with a lively dinner party in Belgravia, with guests excitedly planning their coronation viewing, showing different attitudes and social scenes around this big event; capturing the contrast between the grandeur of traditions and the lightheartedness of upper-class life in London.