W This book focuses on the literary contribution made r i t by the pugilistic writing of Pierce Egan (c. 1772–1849), in g identifying the elements that rendered Egan’s style distinctive t h and examining the ways his writing invigorated the sporting e P narrative. In particular, the author analyses Egan’s blend r i z of inventive imagery and linguistic exuberance within the e f commentaries of the Boxiana series (1812–29). The book ig h explores the metropolitan and sporting jargon used by the diverse t : range of characters that inhabited Egan’s ‘Pugilistic Hemisphere’ P i e and looks at Egan’s exploitation of prizefighting’s theatricality. r c e Another significant theme is the role of pugilistic reporting in E perpetuating stereotypical notions relating to British national g a n identity, military readiness and morality. Consideration of ’s Egan’s metropolitan rambles is complemented by discussion B o of the heterogeneity, spectacle and social dynamics of the prize x i a ring and its reportage. The book traces Egan’s impact during n a the nineteenth century and, importantly, evaluates his influence W on the subsequent development of sporting journalism. o r l d Writing Prizefi ght d the a v david snowdon completed his PhD at Newcastle University in i d 2008. He was employed as academic tutor at Sunderland University, s where he lectured on Victorian literature. He continues, in an n o Pierce Egan’s Boxiana World independent capacity, to undertake further scholarly research and w to maintain Eganesque multimedia resources including a website, d www.pierce-egan.co.uk. o n David Snowdon ISBN 978-3-0343-0990-5 PETER LANG www.peterlang.com W This book focuses on the literary contribution made r i t by the pugilistic writing of Pierce Egan (c. 1772–1849), in g identifying the elements that rendered Egan’s style distinctive t h and examining the ways his writing invigorated the sporting e P narrative. In particular, the author analyses Egan’s blend r i z of inventive imagery and linguistic exuberance within the e f commentaries of the Boxiana series (1812–29). The book ig h explores the metropolitan and sporting jargon used by the diverse t : range of characters that inhabited Egan’s ‘Pugilistic Hemisphere’ P i e and looks at Egan’s exploitation of prizefighting’s theatricality. r c e Another significant theme is the role of pugilistic reporting in E perpetuating stereotypical notions relating to British national g a n identity, military readiness and morality. Consideration of ’s Egan’s metropolitan rambles is complemented by discussion B o of the heterogeneity, spectacle and social dynamics of the prize x i a ring and its reportage. The book traces Egan’s impact during n a the nineteenth century and, importantly, evaluates his influence W on the subsequent development of sporting journalism. o r l d Writing Prizefi ght d the a v david snowdon completed his PhD at Newcastle University in i d 2008. He was employed as academic tutor at Sunderland University, s where he lectured on Victorian literature. He continues, in an n o Pierce Egan’s Boxiana World independent capacity, to undertake further scholarly research and w to maintain Eganesque multimedia resources including a website, d www.pierce-egan.co.uk. o n David Snowdon PETER LANG www.peterlang.com Writing the Prizefight Writing the Prizefight Pierce Egan’s Boxiana World David Snowdon PETER LANG Oxford • Bern • Berlin • Bruxelles • Frankfurt am Main • New York • Wien Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Snowdon, David. Writing the Prizefight : Pierce Egan’s Boxiana World / David Snowdon. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-3-0343-0990-5 (alk. paper) 1. Egan, Pierce, 1772-1849--Criticism and interpretation. 2. Boxing stories--History and criticism. 3. Sports stories--History and criticism. I. Title. PR4649.E45Z88 2013 824’.7--dc23 2013016671 Cover image: ‘Thomas Belcher’ (London: 1811), by Thomas Douglas Guest © Trustees of the British Museum. isbn 978-3-0343-0990-5 (print) Isbn 978-3-0353-0485-5 (eBook) Peter Lang AG, International Academic Publishers, Bern 2013 Hochfeldstrasse 32, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland [email protected], www.peterlang.com, www.peterlang.net All rights reserved. All parts of this publication are protected by copyright. Any utilisation outside the strict limits of the copyright law, without the permission of the publisher, is forbidden and liable to prosecution. This applies in particular to reproductions, translations, microfilming, and storage and processing in electronic retrieval systems. Printed in Germany Contents List of Short Titles ix Chapter 1 The Rise in Popularity of Pugilism and its Reporting 1 In this Corner, Introducing Pierce Egan and the ‘Boxiana Style’ 15 Pugilistic Interest Peaks and Declines 26 Aspects of Egan to Consider 28 Chapter 2 Flash!: The Language of the Metropolis and the Prize Ring 35 Linguistic Factors: Authenticity and Illicitness 38 Fancy Connection: The Metropolitan Slang of Life in London 43 Early Boxiana Volumes 48 Sports Talk: Reported Speech 60 Egan’s Sporting Newspapers and New Series Boxiana 65 Post-Boxiana Series 68 Chapter 3 Sporting Theatre: Spectacle and Social Dynamics 71 Drama Boxiana: Accentuating Spectacle in Pugilistic Af fairs 75 Social Conf licts 85 Dif ferent Perspectives on the Performance 94 The Arts, and Further Classical Connections 103 Racial Neutrality: Boxiana’s Pugilistic Unity 110 The Human Equivalent of the Cockpit 115 Theatricality, and Re-packaging the Sport for Wider Appeal 118 vi Chapter 4 The Nation – Military and Moral 127 Transferring Sporting Attributes into Martial Combat 132 Native Enmities: Rivalry between Britons 153 Conciliation and Integrity v Revenge and Dissipation 162 Chapter 5 Enlivening Reality: The Egan Touch 179 The Boxiana Style in Political Satire and Parody 181 Boxiana Traces in Selected Nineteenth-Century Literature 192 A Watershed, and Eganesque Sports Reporting 208 Chapter 6 Post-Fight Observations 229 Appendix Glossary of Nineteenth-Century Flash and Sporting Terms 237 Bibliography 249 Index 255 Pierce Egan (1821) Artist: George Sharples. Engraving: Charles Turner. © National Portrait Gallery, London Egan alerted readers that prints of this portrait would be available for purchase: ‘On Tuesday next will be published a LIKENESS of PIERCE EGAN, in his UPPER STORY, asking HIMSELF a FEW QUESTIONS’ (Egan’s Life in London, and Sporting Guide, 17, 23 May 1824).