“Consuming Anxieties” Book Launch

Come celebrate the publication of Dr. Dayne C. Riley’s first book, “Consuming Anxieties: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Trade in British Satire, 1660-1751.” Looking at plays, anonymous verse, and the work of canonical writers, such as Aphra Behn, John Gay, Alexander Pope, and Jonathan Swift, Riley’s book explores how literary satirists represented consumables items—including wine, beer, ale, gin, pipe tobacco, and snuff—in their work.

During the talk, Riley will discuss the Gin Craze, a period of extreme moral panic, that lasted from 1725-1751. This strange historical era—often compared to the 1980s crack-cocaine epidemic—greatly impacted the discussion of alcohol during the eighteenth century, helping to usher in a more modern view of alcohol abuse. Through this historical lens, Riley considers The Beggar’s Opera, a fun subversive play that mocks, questions, and (at times) reinforces the anti-gin fervor of the period.

Stay for a reception after the event with light snacks and an open bar. Magic City Books will be onsite selling copies of Dr. Riley’s book as well.