Sex and swearing in the 1800s: Taboo is more historically accurate than you think Taboo may seem like a distinctly modern take on London life in 1814. Scenery-chewing gangsters. Gratuitous acts of violence and […]

Taboo may seem like a distinctly modern take on London life in 1814.

Scenery-chewing gangsters. Gratuitous acts of violence and sex. Copious F-words.

You could argue the BBC’s 19th century thriller is the Georgian era given a contemporary, pop culture-inspired makeover.

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But those in the know tell a different story.

Gangs, vice and corruption

Greg Jenner, a public historian who acted as consultant on TV’s Horrible Histories, says that the reality of life in the early 1800s was a world away from what we imagine.

“We have this perception of the era as being this kind of great refinement. Very Jane Austen. People swishing around in frocks.

“But there were riots. Violence in the streets. A big problem with alcoholism.

“The Regency era was full of debauchery and violence.”

Taboo’s vision of London at that time depicts shadowy sex dens, opportunistic thugs lurking on every corner, and a city run by criminal bosses.

Not far from the truth, in all likelihood.

“There was a big problem with crime,” says Jenner. “There was still no formal police force yet. You were still 15 years away from that.

“There was definitely gangs, violence, prostitution, vice and corruption.

“Any city of that scale – and London was huge for the time – will attract the nefarious elements.”

Not-so-polite society

The Georgian upper classes don’t escape the darker side of Taboo, either. Far from it in fact.

Here, aristocrats and gentlemen are not benign, carefree chatterers hosting dances in country estates.

Instead, central antagonists include agents of the Crown as well as the East India Company: a powerful organisation that controlled vast swathes of foreign territory.

Senior members included notable MPs, gentry and military officers.

“They were certainly notorious,” explains Jenner. “They got rich operating as a private corporation but with imperial support behind them.”

Jenner points to the example of Robert Clive, known as Clive Of India, who lived some decades before the events of Taboo.

He became extremely rich off the back of corruption and atrocities, and was eventually impeached by Parliament.

Probably not dissimilar to Jonathan Pryce’s conniving company man.

Rumblings of revolution

An actual historical figure depicted in the drama is the Prince Regent – later George IV.

Here, a virtually unrecognisable Mark Gatiss portrays him as a vain, bloated slug of a man.

“The Prince Regent was hugely unpopular,” says Jenner. “A bloated, debauched, money-squandering wastrel.”

Perhaps not surprising given this fact, Taboo’s mention of republican agitators and spies looking to undermine British affairs is likely accurate.

“It was a time of enormous political turmoil,” explains Jenner. “There were rumblings of insurrection and revolution.

“Britain had fought this incredibly expensive land-grabbing war. People were drawn to the idea of a republic.”

Sordid pastimes – and foul language

The society depicted in Taboo is one of rampant, almost gleeful violence.

And the world of Regency Britain was certainly in love with acts of brutality.

“Bare-knuckle boxing was by far the most popular sport,” notes Jenner, who is currently writing a book on the subject.

“It was relentlessly brutal. It was illegal but hugely popular, and drew crowds from the aristocracy too. They used to hang out with fighters in the pub.

“Britain had become a warring nation, and that was reflected on the streets.”

As for those who see the widespread use of four-letter words in Taboo as a modern fabrication, Jenner has some sobering foul-mouthed facts.

“The F-word was being used extensively at that time. There were erotic texts containing use of the C-word.”

Scatalogical and body-based terms were particularly popular, as well.

“The big misnomer is that you wouldn’t hear a swear word in the time of Jane Austen,” adds Jenner.

“But you’d absolutely hear them in pubs, on the streets, and at the theatre.

“People were loud and rowdy and obnoxious. The past was full of bad language.”

Taboo is on BBC One, Saturday nights at 9.15 pm, and is also available on iPlayer. For more information on Greg Jenner and his work, visit www.gregjenner.com