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William Hone walking tour - comedy and caricature in Georgian England

  • Abney Park Trust Stoke Newington High Street London, England, N16 0LH United Kingdom (map)

William Hone was an early nineteenth century satirist who famously faced a three-day show trial in 1817.

It was so dramatic that Ian Hislop wrote a play about it. But Georgian satire was so robust that it can put even Private Eye in the shade!

Hone was a big name in his day, and has since been described as one of the "fathers of modern media". Hone's illustrator George Cruikshank and the world-famous author Charles Dickens attended Hone's funeral at Abney in 1842.

This William Hone walking tour will discuss Hone's career, his trial and show some of Cruikshank's savage cartoons.

About the speaker:

Alan Gartrell has given tours of Abney Park for many years now. His topics cover a huge range from the history of Hackney's MPs to Abney Park's missionary links. He very modestly says he is not a historian, just a few clicks ahead of everyone else on Wikipedia.

From the Stoke Newington High Street entrance, please meet at the far end of the pedestrian walkway – where the path splits into three.

This event is free - donations welcome to support the work of Abney Park Trust.