Overview

Remembering Anne Beach pulls back the veil on the challenges of research, the problems of gaps in archives, and the long process involved in constructing historical narratives. Through the tragic tale of an ill-fated couple and their disapproving families, this microhistory explores not only forbidden love but also marriage, illness, death, disability, and scandal in eighteenth-century society. Drawing on the story of Anne Beach, the author sheds light on the lost experiences of early modern women as well as those with mental afflictions who have left us mere fragments of their lived experiences. In weaving a tragic narrative, Day also tackles the problem of archival silences and provides the reader with insight into the highs and lows of the research process. With charm and clarity, Day describes the frustration, skill, determination, obsession, and sheer luck required to be able to provide a diligent, more inclusive perception of our past.

Full Product Details

9781487593902

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Remembering Anne Beach is a work of impressive archival recovery. In reinterpreting the dynamics of William Wainhouse and Anne Beach’s relationship, Carolyn A. Day reconstructs a complex eighteenth-century story about reputation, breach of promise, family treachery and neglect, and marital politics. In documenting their trials and tribulations, Day engages deeply with the intertwined histories of gender, disease, and status while also providing compelling, and sometimes deeply personal, reflections on the twists and turns of the historian’s craft.” -- Paul Deslandes, Professor of History and Associate Dean for Student Success, University of Vermont “Carolyn A. Day has crafted a fascinating tale of how archival scraps can be stitched together to fill in what would otherwise be the blank pages of the historical record. Her compelling microhistory shows how health, gender, and social class were intertwined in the late eighteenth century. Looking beyond the scandal that defined the end of Anne Beach’s life, Day recovers Anne as a flesh-and-blood person. In the process, she reveals how history is painstakingly reconstructed bit-by-bit from the often- scanty evidence it leaves behind.” -- Stephanie Barczewski, Professor of History and Carol K. Brown Scholar in the Humanities, Clemson University

Author Information

Carolyn Day is an associate professor of history at Furman University.

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