Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune: How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen's England
Rory Muir
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press (September 24, 2019)
ISBN-13: 9780300244311

In Jane Austen’s England the eldest son usually inherited almost everything while his younger brothers, left with little inheritance, had to make a crucial decision: what should they do to make an independent living? Rory Muir weaves together the stories of many obscure and well-known young men, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Regency society. This is the first scholarly yet accessible exploration of the lifestyle and prospects of these younger sons.

Author

Rory Muir is a visiting research fellow at the University of Adelaide and a renowned expert on British history. His books include Britain and the Defeat of Napoleon and his two-part biography of Wellington, which won the SAHR Templer Medal.