Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune : How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen's England

A portrait of Jane Austen's England told through the career paths of younger sons-men of good family but small fortune In Regency England the eldest son usually inherited almost everything while his younger brothers, left with little inheritance, had to make a crucial decision: What should they do to make an independent living?

Rory Muir weaves together the stories of many obscure and well-known young men, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Regency society.

This is the first scholarly yet accessible exploration of the lifestyle and prospects of these younger sons.