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Heading South to Teach: The World of Susan Nye Hutchison, 1815–1845 by Kim Tolley (review)

its thoughtful and imaginative integration of diverse sources into a coherent discussion of early representations of urban change in provincial Britain. The author’s use of the most elaborate visuals, such as the Rogers and Sons’ Norfolk knife, testify to the significance of this subject. Viewing the material evidence, one can easily envision that the exhibiting of such extravagant instruments would have impressed national and international audiences alike, indeed elevating the image of the particular company as well as the city. However, the degree to which Layton-Jones manages to bring out the distinctive local character highlighted in these artworks is questionable, as the text centers on thematic continuation while geographic specificity takes the back seat. As if this extensive and captivating history were not enough, Layton-Jones attempts to illustrate the significance of these images by extracting their impact on the physical developments within cities, unfortunately often falling short of this goal. There are some enticing glimpses: the discussion of Manchester’s proposal to aggrandize rather than hide its chimneys, as they came to signify the city and its industry, is riveting and poignant. However, other sections of the book could have used a similar approach. In particular, while the author discusses the importance of the creation of appropriate walks to enjoy urban vistas, even mentioning the curious Select Committee on Public Walks in Liverpool, she fails to elaborate on concrete actions taken to design views and access to them. Throughout the period under discussion and indeed perhaps well beyond, the design and construction of built environments has been a very expensive and collaborative process that necessitated reliable funds, political commitment, and competent labor—mere ideas or perceptions have never been enough to execute change, even when town prestige was in question.