Making a Man

Discover the intricacies of 19th-century masculinity in Gwen Hyman's insightful book, Making a Man, published by Ohio University Press in 2009. Spanning 296 pages, this engaging work delves into the consumption of food, drink, and drugs during a time when societal norms were being reshaped. Hyman explores how dining rituals, opium dens, and cocaine labs played a pivotal role in defining what it meant to be a man in literature of the era.

By examining the intersections of consumption and identity, Making a Man reveals how these behaviors contributed to the formation and transformation of the gentlemanly body. This book is essential for anyone interested in the history of male consumers in Great Britain, as well as the cultural customs surrounding food and drink in literature. Dive into this compelling analysis and uncover the social dynamics that shaped the lives of men in the 19th century.