Geoffrey Holmes at the time of the original publication of the book was Professor of History, University of Lancaster.
Review of the Original Publication: “Let us be clear at the outset what this book is not. It is not an account of England in the Augustan period. Quite specifically, it is a social and institutional history of the professions during the half-century when, according to the author, they were transformed in character and numbers. With this caveat, Augustan England is an extremely useful addition to the historiography of the period, sharpening our awareness of the development of an important occupational segment of the population, and deepening our understanding of English society on the eve of the industrial revolution.” - Ian Gentles, Vol. 17 No. 34 (1984), Histoire Sociale-Social History