Historical Context: Lichfield
"Now, my dear Archer, welcome to Lichfield!"
-Aimwell, Act One-
-Aimwell, Act One-
Unlike many plays of the time, The Beaux’ Stratagem unfolds far from London and the bustle of big-city life, and Farquhar has been alternately lauded and damned for choosing to set his play in the country. Located in Staffordshire, in the region now known as England’s West Midlands, Lichfield is situated some 120 miles to the northwest of London. According to Jeffrey Meyers (see below for source), early-eighteenth-century Lichfield sustained a population of around 4,000, compared to London’s approximate count of 675,000. The town itself has long been marked by a magnificent cathedral, and aptly or not, tradition suggests that the town’s name means “field of the dead” or “field of corpses” and refers to a host of Christian martyrs who perished on the site of the town. During the eighteenth century, Lichfield came to boast such progeny as eminent writer and thinker Samuel Johnson and actor David Garrick (who appeared in The Beaux’ Stratagem on more than one occasion).
When thinking on to Lichfield as a country town, the term “country” ought to be taken with some moderation, for if Lichfield was no match for London’s rush (and if it failed to satisfy Mrs. Sullen's particular tastes), it wasn’t the sleepiest or most rustic of towns. Though it would wane over the coming years, Lichfield stood as a quite prominent town—and one relatively friendly to intellectual activity—during the early eighteenth century.
When thinking on to Lichfield as a country town, the term “country” ought to be taken with some moderation, for if Lichfield was no match for London’s rush (and if it failed to satisfy Mrs. Sullen's particular tastes), it wasn’t the sleepiest or most rustic of towns. Though it would wane over the coming years, Lichfield stood as a quite prominent town—and one relatively friendly to intellectual activity—during the early eighteenth century.
FURTHER READING
Lichfield - Brief History: From the Lichfield City Council's website. Offers a quick sense of the city's developments, without dwelling overmuch on the eighteenth century. The site also features maps of and general information related to present-day Lichfield.
Lichfield: From the Reformation to c.1800: A reasonably thorough look at Lichfield's history, available via British History Online.
Samuel Johnson: The Struggle, Jeffrey Meyers: The opening chapter, "Lichfield Lad," offers a colorful and quite informative overview of early eighteenth-century Lichfield. Preview available through Google Books. See page 10 for the population statistics noted above.
A Short Account of the City and Close of Lichfield: Offers a variety of information regarding Lichfield in and beyond the eighteenth century. Available in full through Google Books.
Back to Historical Context.
Lichfield - Brief History: From the Lichfield City Council's website. Offers a quick sense of the city's developments, without dwelling overmuch on the eighteenth century. The site also features maps of and general information related to present-day Lichfield.
Lichfield: From the Reformation to c.1800: A reasonably thorough look at Lichfield's history, available via British History Online.
Samuel Johnson: The Struggle, Jeffrey Meyers: The opening chapter, "Lichfield Lad," offers a colorful and quite informative overview of early eighteenth-century Lichfield. Preview available through Google Books. See page 10 for the population statistics noted above.
A Short Account of the City and Close of Lichfield: Offers a variety of information regarding Lichfield in and beyond the eighteenth century. Available in full through Google Books.
Back to Historical Context.
