Petticoat Heroes

Rhian E. Jones

Description

Shortlisted for the Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing 2016

The wave of unrest which took place in 1840s Wales, known as ‘Rebeccaism’ or ‘the Rebecca riots’, stands out as a success story within the generally gloomy annals of popular struggle and defeat. The story is remembered in vivid and compelling images: attacks on tollgates and other symbols of perceived injustice by farmers and workers, outlandishly dressed in bonnets and petticoats and led by the iconic anonymous figure of Rebecca herself. The events form a core part of historical study and remembrance in Wales, and frequently appear in broader work on British radicalism and Victorian protest movements. This book draws on cultural history, gender studies and symbolic anthropology to present fresh and alternative arguments on the meaning of Rebeccaite costume and ritual; the significance of the feminine in protest; the links between protest and popular culture; the use of Rebecca’s image in Victorian press and political discourse; and the ways in which the events and the image of Rebecca herself were integrated into politics, culture and popular memory in Wales and beyond. All these aspects repay greater consideration than they have yet been accorded, and highlight the relevance of Rebeccaism to British and European popular protest – up to and including the present day.
1 Introduction
2 ‘Everything conspires to disorder’: Politics and Society in Rebecca’s Country
3 Rebecca and the Historians
4 ‘Pomp and paraphernalia’: Custom, Festival, Ritual and Rebeccaism
5 ‘Petticoat heroes’: Rethinking Rebeccaite Costume and Symbolism
6 ‘Six hundred children and more every day’: The New Poor Law and Female Sexual Agency
7 ‘Maid, spirit or man’: Rebecca’s Image in Public Discourse
8 ‘A very creditable portion of Welsh history’? Rebeccaism’s Aftermath and Longer-Term Political and Cultural Impact
Conclusion
Epilogue: ‘The rallying-cry of discontent’: Repurposing Rebecca

Sujets

• 19th Century
• Modern
• Histoire
• History
• Wales

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 20 novembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783167890
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

The wave of unrest which took place in 1840s Wales, known as ‘Rebeccaism’ or ‘The Rebecca Riots’, stands out as a success story within the generally gloomy annals of popular struggle and defeat. The story is remembered in vivid and compelling images: attacks on tollgates and other symbols of perceived injustice by farmers and workers, strikingly dressed in bonnets and petticoats and led by the iconic anonymous Igure of Rebecca herself. The events form a core part of historical study and remembrance in Wales, and frequently appear in broader work on British radicalism and Victorian protest movements. This book draws on cultural history, gender studies and symbolic anthropology to present fresh and alternative arguments on the meaning of Rebeccaite costume and ritual; the signiIcance of the feminine in protest; the links between protest and popular culture; the use of Rebecca’s image in Victorian press and political discourse; and the ways in which the events and the image of Rebecca herself were integrated into politics, culture and popular memory in Wales and beyond. All these aspects repay greater consideration than they have yet been accorded, and highlight the relevance of Rebeccaism to British and European popular protest – up to and including the present day.

Cover image:Rebecca and her daughters (unattributed engraving); Mary Evans Picture Library. Cover design: Olwen Fowler

‘Popular protest in drag? Read this lively and authoritative study to understand the history, myths and legacies of the notorious Rebecca Riots in early Victorian Wales.’ Penelope J. CorIeld, Emeritus Professor, London University

‘This is an important and impressive piece of historical writing, displaying a masterly unity of conception and execution, and breaking new ground in drawing on the major advances of recent years in both gender and cultural history. Rhian E. Jones has brought an energy and a verve to our understanding of the Rebecca Riots that reactivates the debates around what Georey Elton termed Wales’s “special revolutionary enterprise”.’ Professor Chris Williams, CardiF University

Rhian E. Jonesgrew up in south Wales, and now lives and works in London where she writes on history, politics, popular culture and their intersections. She has published widely, and herClampdown: Pop-Cultural Wars on Class and Gender(2013) was among theGuardian’s Best Music Books of 2013; she also writes the blog Velvet Coalmine at www.rhianejones.com.

PETTICOAT HEROES

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PETTICOAT HEROES

Gender, Culture and Popular Protest in the Rebecca Riots

Rhian E. Jones

The University of Wales Press acknowledges the financial support of the Welsh Books Council.

© Rhian E. Jones, 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff CF10 4UP.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library CIP Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781783167883 eISBN 9781783167890

The right of Rhian E. Jones to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Typeset by Marie Doherty Printed by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, Wiltshire

To Mike Bowen, Frances Evans,

and all other heroes in petticoats

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Acknowledgements

Contents

i

x

1 Introduction 1 2 ‘Everything conspires to disorder’: Politics and Society in Rebecca’s Country 9 3 Rebecca and the Historians 31 4 ‘Pomp and paraphernalia’: Custom, Festival, Ritual and Rebeccaism 45 5 ‘Petticoat heroes’: Rethinking Rebeccaite Costume and Symbolism 59 6 ‘Six hundred children and more every day’: The New Poor Law and Female Sexual Agency 81 7 ‘Maid, spirit or man’: Rebecca’s Image in Public Discourse 97 8 ‘A very creditable portion of Welsh history’? Rebeccaism’s Aftermath and LongerTerm Political and Cultural Impact 115

Conclusion

135

Epilogue. ‘The rallyingcry of discontent’: Repurposing Rebecca 139

Notes

Bibliography

Index

149

181

197

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Acknowledgements

For their help and support in enabling me to produce this book, my thanks go to Professor Chris Williams at Cardiff University, Dr Kathryn Gleadle at Mansfield College, Oxford and Professor Penelope Corfield.