Book recommendations

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So essentially among one of the things I'm currently looking for is a book that essentially covers some 18th to early 19th century Western country's economy (Britain in particular, but France, Spain or the Netherlands would suffice too). In particular, I'd like to know how many mills (windmills, watermills, etc.) such had, some general estimate on certain trades/professions in the country (for example, the number of carpenters, doctors, merchants, glaziers/glass-makers, etc.), and so forth.

For the time being, I'm going to see if this book satisfies some of my curiosity though I'm sure it won't (my curiosity can be very demanding) : https://www.amazon.com/dp/052157825...colid=2OXAPAVPXYZ8&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Edit :

Oh that reminds me, another topic was some book(s) trying to cover early mass-production. In particular, Eli Whitney's so-called contract-rifle.

Edit 2

Something on the early history (up to say the 18th to early 19th centuries) of the following trades : chocolate, coffee, cotton, salt, spices, sugar, and tobacco along with precious metals (copper, silver, and gold). Note, I know there are some individual books covering things like salt and cotton.

Edit 3

1) Some comprehensive book on the VOC (i.e. the Dutch East India Company). Can't seem to find anything on such to my liking;
2) Some book on guilds (besides those by Sheilagh Ogilvie);
3) late 17th to early 19th century construction (of buildings and infrastructure) in Europe

Edit 4

1) Something that fleshes out fairies/faeries (perhaps also vampires and mermaids too) in terms of how they may live/organize themselves, what their culture and society would be like, and so forth.
 
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verissimus said:
1) Something that fleshes out fairies/faeries (perhaps also vampires and mermaids too) in terms of how they may live/organize themselves, what their culture and society would be like, and so forth.
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Hmmm, I've just finished my vampire module for university so I might be some help. I'm going to give you my bibliography which might give you some ideas not just for books but authors (Skal particularly). Sadly my essay was on the conflict between 'Science and the Supernatural in Vampire Fiction,' so I didn't bother with much beyond that area (though it all shares common ground):

Secondary Sources:

John Gray: The Immortalization Commission,

David J. Skal: The Monster Show

Ken Gelder: Reading the Vampire,

Paul Meehan, The Vampire in Science Fiction Film and Literature,

E. Michael Jones: Monsters from the Id,

Nina Auerbach: Our Vampires, Ourselves,

Gregory A. Waller: The Living and the Undead,

Fr. Seraphim Rose: Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future,

Martin Gardner: ‘Colin Wilson Strikes Again’, Order and Surprise, (Oxford: Prometheus Books, 1983). Pp.361-364.

Chris Koenig-Woodyard: ‘The Mathematics of Monstrosity: Vampire Demography in Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend’,

Andrew Hock Soon Ng: ‘The Inhumanity of Christ: Damnation and Redemption in Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend’, Studies in the Literary Imagination,

James Blish, ‘Eclectic Occultism’, The Spectator, 6 November 1971, p.14.

Marcus Harmes: ‘Martians, Demons, Vampires, and Vicars: The Church of England in Post-War Science Fiction’

Veronica Hollinger: ‘The Vampire and the Alien: Variations on the Outsider’,​
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Also: David J. Skal: Vampires.

There is some discussion on the history of vampires so that might help. I can't recall which one, I think Jones' book, but there is a lot said about Stoker having syphilis. Idk why I think that is important but I find it funny.​
 
janedoe said:
anybody got good some recommendations for fiction in western settings (i am partial to spaghetti western, but i'll settle for any)? or WW2 settings?
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Western: Blood Meridian or any other Cormac McCarthy novel.

Ww2: Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy and Ballard's Empire of the Sun.
 
Also looking for some book covering a late 17th to early 19th century European Royal Court (i.e. who the courtiers were, how many of them were they, etc.). I'll probably try my luck with a book that covers Napoleon's court, but I was hoping to get something on say the court of Louis XIV, XV, or XVI. I'm open to reading material on other Courts (such as Peter I, Maria Theresa of Austria, Frederick II of Prussia, or George III of Britain)
 
verissimus said:
Also looking for some book covering a late 17th to early 19th century European Royal Court (i.e. who the courtiers were, how many of them were they, etc.). I'll probably try my luck with a book that covers Napoleon's court, but I was hoping to get something on say the court of Louis XIV, XV, or XVI. I'm open to reading material on other Courts (such as Peter I, Maria Theresa of Austria, Frederick II of Prussia, or George III of Britain)
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This stuff was documented in autistic detail at the time, and a lot of it has been scanned on archive.org:

The duc de Saint-Simon's memoirs even seem to have an English abridged translation.
 
The world would be better off if schools still taught Flannery O'Connor. They don’t anymore because Flannery was born poor, sickly, southern, and her books use the nigger word. Read her if you like dark southern gothic tales with a spine grounded in Catholic morals.
 
curbside said:
The world would be better off if schools still taught Flannery O'Connor. They don’t anymore because Flannery was born poor, sickly, southern, and her books use the nigger word. Read her if you like dark southern gothic tales with a spine grounded in Catholic morals.
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She's a delight.
 
I'm currently reading the Suneater book series. I really enjoy them so far.

I'd also recommend literally anything by Janny Wurts, or the Silerian Trilogy by Laura Resnick, if you can find them - they've been put of print since literally the first printing, but they ARE in e-book format.
 
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