Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- A note to the reader
- PART I INTRODUCTION
- PART II THE RECONFIGURATION OF POLITICS
- PART III AN ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE OF POLITICS
- PART IV FOCUSSED RADICALISM
- 9 Personality, propaganda and ritual: Wilkes and the Wilkites
- 10 American ideology and British radicalism; the case for parliamentary reform
- PART V TWO POLITICAL NATIONS
- PART VI CONCLUSION
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
9 - Personality, propaganda and ritual: Wilkes and the Wilkites
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- A note to the reader
- PART I INTRODUCTION
- PART II THE RECONFIGURATION OF POLITICS
- PART III AN ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE OF POLITICS
- PART IV FOCUSSED RADICALISM
- 9 Personality, propaganda and ritual: Wilkes and the Wilkites
- 10 American ideology and British radicalism; the case for parliamentary reform
- PART V TWO POLITICAL NATIONS
- PART VI CONCLUSION
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In the even read several political papers called the ‘North Briton’, which are wrote by John Wilkes, Esq., member for Ailsbery [sic] in Bucks, for the writing of which he has been committed to the Tower, and procured his release by a writ of Harbus Corpus’ [sic]. I really think they breath forth such a spirit of liberty, that it is an extreme good paper.
(F. M. Turner (ed.), The Diary of Thomas Turner of East Hoathley 1754–65 (1925), 77–8)The Father of his country; the English David; the beloved Patriot; the heroic Champion; the Martyr of Liberty. (Charlotte Forman to John Wilkes (describing him), 28 October 1769, Add. Mss 30870 f. 216)
John Wilkes is remembered as much for his startling personality as for the political issues that were raised during his controversial career. At first sight, as all those who have seen Hogarth's wicked caricature would concede, he was a most unprepossessing figure. Of no great stature and, by all contemporary accounts, of quite startling ugliness, his portrait in etchings and cartoons more closely resembles that of an inbred Habsburg than the British ‘God of liberty’. Yet, despite these disadvantages – or perhaps because of them – Wilkes possessed what can only be called style.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1976