The Social History of Smoking

The book traces the social evolution of tobacco use in England from its early adoption through waves of fashion, decline, and revival. It examines how different forms of tobacco—pipe, cigar, cigarette—rose or fell in respectability and practice across social classes. It surveys the economic and material aspects of smoking, including sellers, signs, and smoking implements, and describes conventions, restrictions, and public attitudes. Later chapters address changing gender practices and occasions such as religious settings. The narrative combines chronological chapters with social anecdotes and documentary references to illuminate how smoking became increasingly widespread and socially normalized by the twentieth century.