Anton Howes, “Arts and Minds: How the Royal Society of Arts Changed a Nation” (Princeton UP, 2020)

Over the past 300 years, The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce has tried to improve British life in every way imaginable. It has sought to influence education, commerce, music, art, architecture, communications, food, and every other corner of society. Arts and Minds: How the Royal...