How is it that at the end of the 17th century there was almost no native English tradition in painting, theatre, music or publishing, yet by the end of the 18th century England had one of Europe's richest cultures? This book explains this transformation and provides a portrait of English culture in the 18th century. John Brewer's book explains the ways in which literature, painting, music and the theatre were communicated to the public; how the roles of writers, painters, musicians and actors changed dramatically; the creation of professional bodies such as the Royal Academy; and artists were used by publishers, impresarios, managers, enthusiasts, copyists, plagiarists and entrepreneurs of all kinds. The towering figures of the 18th century - Johnson, Reynolds, Garrick, Handel are the focus for his discussion of each of their arts; but here too are lesser known figures.