Dayne Riley
October 17 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Hear about the Strange Period of Moral Panic, known as the Gin Craze, and how it shaped one of the most influential, subversive (and hilarious) plays of the 1700s
Come celebrate the publication of Dr. Dayne C. Riley’s first book, Consuming Anxieties: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Trade in British Satire, 1660-1751 at a free event on Thursday October 17 hosted by the Oklahoma Center for Humanities at 101 Archer (two blocks west of Magic City Books in the Tulsa Arts District). 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.
Riley’s book will be on sale thanks to Magic City Books. Join us after the talk for a reception celebrating the author. This is event is free and open to all.
