Customer Reviews

The Hellfire Club

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This short book is about one of the stranger institutions that developed in 18th-century England, the notorious Hellfire club founded by a young baronet and some other prominent men. This book does a good job of explaining the reasons for founding the club, and in outlining some of the personalities that made up the club. Briefly put, although the club was mainly about sexual excesses (in rites expressing the strong anti-Catholicism of the founders and of 18th century English aristocracy in general), several members of the club were also very important in English politics, if not adept politicians. Two of the latter kind are the fourth earl of Sandwich (best known for creating the sandwich) and the earl of Bute (the Prime Minister and the lover of George III's mother). But among the less known members were John Wilkes (a radical) and several prominent authors.

I won't go into the history of the club, except to say that what made it so interesting to contemporaries was not so much the sexual and other practices of the members (relatively routine for those days among the aristocracy), but rather the fact that the club actively sought to obtain political power for its members - and that the founder Sir Francis Dashwood (later a baron) created some rather memorable features on his estate.

The problem I have with the book is that it is basically a light entertaining read, but without any sources whatsover for its many anecdotes and other details. There is also absolutely no index, so if you are interested in a particular character, you have to find your own way through the book. I was looking at the most recent 2001 edition (a good bargain at the price), and the original editions might have this information and more. From the point of view of someone looking for light reading about the period, this rates four to four and a half stars. For someone looking for more detailed information (with sources and acknowledgements), there is more information available elsewhere although not in such a nice package. I therefore give it three stars.

Some nice touches - details about club life in London, the descriptions of Sir Francis's estate (now owned by the National Trust), the quick vignettes of the main characters/founders.

Some problems - the lack of an index, the lack of any sources or any bibliography (even in an afterword), some minor errors such as the claim that Sir Francis was "made" a baron. He in fact inherited a barony (the ancient Barony Le Despencer, now held by the Viscounts Falmouth), and at best, he petitioned the Crown to acknowledge him as Baron. This is a slightly different situation.

This book serves as a very interesting and entertaining introduction into the topic; very fun reading, and provocative in a few of its statements.

Right off the bat, it should be obvious to the reader that this is not a serious analytical or academic study of the topic, but more of an overview and a baptism into the subject it treats. There are no citations, as other reviewers have mentioned. That is perhaps a downside to the book. No indices, citations, or tables of contents tells any reader from the start that this book is not trying to create a reputation for itself as a definitive reference work.

This book itself should be read for entertainment purposes, and as a teaser to draw a reader into the topic. If you're looking for a definitive history and unbiased reference and academic treatment of the subject, look elsewhere. But if you have no idea of the Hell-Fire Club in the mid 1700's involving Sir Francis Dashwood, John Wilkes, the Earl of Sandwich among others, this will definitely whet your appetite.

This book does include many references (not in an academic manner, mind you) that give a reader some insight into the rumors and myths surrounding the club scene of the 1700's and some of what life was like in England during those times. It took me a day to read this book, and I don't count it a wasted day. Fascinating reading, the book itself is well-written in an easily readable style. Names are mentioned and subjects touched on in a way to provide the reader, should he or she so choose, with the names and subjects to look into and do some more investigative reading. I know that I will.

And the cover is cool too. ...

This popular paperback was most people's introduction to Francis Dashwood & The Hellfire Club. A painting of Dashwood still hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London. He was a rake, a libertine, & a man who most likely colluded with Ben Franklin to help create the US of A. Franklin told friends he was going to a "Franciscan" retreat, while participating in debauchery at Dashwood's Hellfire Abbey at High Whycombe. Back at home, he preached the virtue of clean living in his Poor Richard's Almanac.

Mannix starts out the book in quick fashion with the history of other notable "clubs" of 18th centrury England. He then goes into the coloful histories of the more notable members with emphasis on Dashwood and Wilkes. A think he gets off-course when he tries ot tie every single signifigant event of the time to the club itself. The book itself is a very quick read and quite intriguing at parts. It does repeat itself sometimes (almost verbatim).

not a bad book,and historically accurate,but it really doesnt tell us many details about this infamous club.very repetetive "they had orgies,they drank a lot" etc, etc..ad naueseum.i was really disappointed by the lack of insight into the minds of these people.this may have been considered a wild book when it came out in 1959 but it seems timid today

There doesn't seem to be another easily searchable book on the subject in the ranks of amazon.com or anywhere else. Considering the time it was written, this book isn't boring or inhibiting in its presentation. It's in a very "bare facts" sort of nature, shouldn't be so bothersome.

Sir Francis Dashwood and his debaucherous endeavors with the Hellfire Club are fascinating and admirable no matter what your moral platform is. This is a clear, cut-in-stone example of how a lack of repression can sometimes be conducive to greatness. However, the author seems to spare elaborations for his detail-oriented readers to his assertions about the "coulda shoulda's". At times, he acts as an armchair critic of the political climate in the hands of some of the 18th century's most brilliant, powerful, and blasphemous aristocrats, which is beside the point.

This book should accompany another one for the interested reader.

I have several books about the Hellfire Club, but this volume by Daniel Mannix rates high on the charts for pure readability. It's hard to believe that an author can take a fascinating subject and turn it into a snooze-fest, and I've seen it done with this subject. However, Mannix presents lots of historical information in a clear, readable and most enjoyable manner that brings the subject to life.

For me, this book gave me an excellent background on the impact this group had on the American Revolution, insight into the thinking of those who opposed it, and some scandalous facts behind what I had seen previously as dry data. If you are a writer, teacher, or interpreter of history, this is a book that you must read.

The other reviewers are correct, -- this book is light, anecdotal, badly written, etc. I happen to find it charming. It's kind of like reading a version of history written by a scandal sheet, -- for those who don't know of Dashwood, Lord Sandwich (described as "the most universally hated man in all of England"), and the great Chevalier d'Eon, I recommend this book. It also gives a lurid angle on the exploits of John Wilkes and other more well-known characters of the time. The story of Ben Franklin tricking the English into thinking he had magic powers I'd never heard anywhere else. This is a perfect book for the airport, the two-hour plane flight (you'll finish it just in time for landing so you won't have to resort to those awful airline magazines), or the daily visit to the toilet we all have to make.... If you like this sort of easy-reading, instant-entertainment sort of thing, I have to recommend "The Mammoth Book of Oddballs & Eccentrics" which has plenty more characters in the same line, including the great Charles Waterton and Lord John Mytton. Also I recommend the same author's "History of Torture".