Bettymania and the Birth of Celebrity Culture

More about the book

Set against the backdrop of early 19th-century Britain, the story explores the meteoric rise and fall of child actor William-Henry West Betty. Captivating audiences with his beauty and talent, he became a cultural phenomenon, igniting fervent admiration and chaos among fans. The book examines the societal factors contributing to his initial acclaim and subsequent obscurity, suggesting that his brief stardom offered a sense of unity during a tumultuous period marked by war and rebellion.