Joseph Harley

Joseph Harley, an author focused on consumer behavior and material culture among the poor in England, reveals surprising truths about poverty from 1650 to 1850. He discusses how the impoverished often aspired to improve their homes, challenging the stereotype of squalor. The conversation covers the impact of the Industrial Revolution on their consumption patterns, the role of furniture in family life, and the significance of heating methods in homes. Harley's extensive research uncovers resilience and agency within the everyday lives of the poor.