Hugh Cunningham is Emeritus Professor of Social History at the University of Kent

'Cunningham’s historiography is a departure from traditionally written histories of individual philanthropists and offers the reader a more thorough contemplation of how contemporaries of their time viewed philanthropy. [...] Readers will do well to use this book as an opportunity to consider modern treatment of the terms of philanthropy, through news outlets and primarily, now through social media. What will historians of the future glean from Twitter feeds on modern discourses of philanthropy? Readers may be challenged by how little the conversation has changed since 1750: both a frustration and a curiosity. Cunningham’s historiography forces this reflection, sorely needed in a field often suffering a short memory.'Voluntas

• Introduction1.Writing the History of Philanthropy2.The Profile of Philanthropy3.The Genesis of Philanthropy4.John Howard, the Philanthropist5.Howard’s Legacy: Philanthropy and Crime6.Universalism versus Patriotism: Philanthropy and the French Revolution,1789-18157.The Times and the telescope: Philanthropy 1815-508.Mid-Victorian Philanthropy, 1850-809.The Failure of Philanthropy? 1880-191410.Philanthropy since 1914Conclusion BibliographyIndex

Hugh Cunningham is Emeritus Professor of Social History at the University of Kent

'Cunningham’s historiography is a departure from traditionally written histories of individual philanthropists and offers the reader a more thorough contemplation of how contemporaries of their time viewed philanthropy. [...] Readers will do well to use this book as an opportunity to consider modern treatment of the terms of philanthropy, through news outlets and primarily, now through social media. What will historians of the future glean from Twitter feeds on modern discourses of philanthropy? Readers may be challenged by how little the conversation has changed since 1750: both a frustration and a curiosity. Cunningham’s historiography forces this reflection, sorely needed in a field often suffering a short memory.'Voluntas

• Introduction1.Writing the History of Philanthropy2.The Profile of Philanthropy3.The Genesis of Philanthropy4.John Howard, the Philanthropist5.Howard’s Legacy: Philanthropy and Crime6.Universalism versus Patriotism: Philanthropy and the French Revolution,1789-18157.The Times and the telescope: Philanthropy 1815-508.Mid-Victorian Philanthropy, 1850-809.The Failure of Philanthropy? 1880-191410.Philanthropy since 1914Conclusion BibliographyIndex

Hugh Cunningham is Emeritus Professor of Social History at the University of Kent

'Cunningham’s historiography is a departure from traditionally written histories of individual philanthropists and offers the reader a more thorough contemplation of how contemporaries of their time viewed philanthropy. [...] Readers will do well to use this book as an opportunity to consider modern treatment of the terms of philanthropy, through news outlets and primarily, now through social media. What will historians of the future glean from Twitter feeds on modern discourses of philanthropy? Readers may be challenged by how little the conversation has changed since 1750: both a frustration and a curiosity. Cunningham’s historiography forces this reflection, sorely needed in a field often suffering a short memory.'Voluntas

• Introduction1.Writing the History of Philanthropy2.The Profile of Philanthropy3.The Genesis of Philanthropy4.John Howard, the Philanthropist5.Howard’s Legacy: Philanthropy and Crime6.Universalism versus Patriotism: Philanthropy and the French Revolution,1789-18157.The Times and the telescope: Philanthropy 1815-508.Mid-Victorian Philanthropy, 1850-809.The Failure of Philanthropy? 1880-191410.Philanthropy since 1914Conclusion BibliographyIndex