Watch At Home with the Georgians

At Home with the Georgians is a fascinating historical documentary series that examines the lives of people living in Georgian England from 1714 to 1830. Presented by renowned historian Amanda Vickery, this show was originally broadcast on BBC Two in 2010 and is now available to stream on Acorn TV.

Across three hour-long episodes, Vickery delves into the world of the Georgian middle and upper classes, exploring their homes, their attitudes, and their daily lives. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of Georgian domesticity: love and marriage, leisure time, and the home as a site of power and influence.

At the heart of the show is Vickery's infectious enthusiasm for her subject matter. She is clearly passionate about the period, and her enthusiasm is contagious. Whether she's examining a piece of Georgian clothing, demonstrating how to dance a minuet, or talking to experts in the field, Vickery's excitement is palpable and makes for engaging viewing.

One of the things that makes At Home with the Georgians so appealing is the way it brings history to life through details of everyday life. Vickery takes viewers into Georgian homes, showing us the rooms, furniture, and belongings that were so essential to the period. Whether it's a magnificent country house or a humble cottage, Vickery is equally interested in the domestic spaces of the Georgian era, and she examines them with a fine-toothed comb.

For example, in the first episode, "The Art of Love," Vickery spends time in a Georgian ballroom, examining the dance moves and etiquette of the time. She talks to a dance historian about how the minuet, the most popular dance of the period, reflected Georgian ideals of courtship and romance. Meanwhile, in the second episode, "The Invention of Leisure," Vickery explores the popularity of gaming in Georgian society, from board games played in the drawing room to the illicit gambling dens frequented by the wealthy.

But At Home with the Georgians is more than just a show about Georgian pastimes. Vickery is also interested in the social and political implications of domesticity, and how the home was a site of power and influence. She shows how Georgian women, in particular, were able to exercise their agency within the domestic sphere, whether through the management of the household finances or their role in entertaining guests.

This aspect of the show is particularly fascinating, as Vickery shines a light on a part of history that is often overlooked. By exploring the lives of women in Georgian society, she reveals a more complex and nuanced picture of the period than is often portrayed in popular culture.

Throughout the show, Vickery is joined by a range of experts who offer their own insights into the period. These include historians, curators, and archaeologists, who all bring their own specialized knowledge to bear on the subject matter. It's clear that Vickery has deep respect for her colleagues, and the show benefits from the range of perspectives that they offer.

Overall, At Home with the Georgians is an engrossing and informative documentary series that offers a beautifully detailed portrait of Georgian domesticity. With Amanda Vickery as our guide, we are able to step back in time and gain a new appreciation for the lives of the people who lived in this remarkable period of history.