Scotland/ Pastimes of the upper class, 1913 1913

Editor: Here we have Leslie Hamilton Wilson's "Scotland/ Pastimes of the upper class," a tiny book from 1913. The green leather cover is striking. What historical context shapes your understanding of this object? Curator: In 1913, the landed gentry still held immense power in Scotland. This book, likely a journal or commonplace book, speaks to the privilege and leisure afforded to the upper class while many struggled. Editor: So, it’s a material manifestation of inequality? Curator: Precisely. The very act of documenting "pastimes" becomes a statement about who has the luxury of such pursuits. Does the object’s intimacy complicate its social statement for you? Editor: It does. I hadn't considered the personal element until now. Curator: These tensions can be productive, prompting us to consider the complex relationship between individual experience and broader social structures. Editor: I see it differently now, thank you!