The Closet

More about the book

This literary and cultural history explores the intimate space of the eighteenth-century closet, a setting that captivated the imaginations of writers like Pepys, Sterne, and Swift. Originally more than just a storage area or a metaphor for shame, the closet served as a private room for reading, writing, praying, dressing, and socializing. In these spaces, kings and duchesses exchanged secrets, while midwives and apothecaries provided remedies, and newly wealthy individuals expanded their social circles. The book reveals how these sites of extrafamilial intimacy became symbols of the evolving dynamics of intimacy during the rise of print media. It examines various historical and fictional encounters within different types of closets—courtly, bathing, prayer, and even the moving closet of a coach. Through this exploration, the work highlights the intimate lives of both well-known figures like Samuel Pepys and lesser-known individuals such as Miss Hobart and Lady Anne Acheson. Additionally, it connects the language of the eighteenth-century closet to contemporary queer theory and coming-out narratives, illustrating the lasting resonance of these intimate spaces. With over thirty illustrations, this account offers a rich and compelling look at a significant symbol of intimacy that endures in modern times.