The Wits and Beaux of Society. Volume 2

"The Wits and Beaux of Society. Volume 2" by A. T. Thomson is a late 19th-century historical work that presents the captivating lives of 18th-century celebrities like Horace Walpole, George Selwyn, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The volume explores their unique personalities, eccentricities, and the social circles they inhabited. Starting with Horace Walpole, the book examines his upbringing, family connections, and formative influences. The narrative details his early life, including cherished memories of his mother and the complex dynamic with his father, Sir Robert Walpole; it portrays Horace's youthful ambitions in British politics and culture, with engaging stories from his time at Eton and Cambridge. As the story unfolds, the opening chapters set the scene for witty conversations, exclusive events, and lively exchanges in literature and art, displaying both the charms and clashes within the lives of England's elite classes.