The paintings and engravings of William Hogarth, the subject of this biography, have always been popular, but outside art history little is known about his life in 18th-century London, where he moved in the worlds of theatre, literature, journalism and politics.

The paintings and engravings of William Hogarth, the subject of this biography, have always been popular, but outside art history little is known about his life in 18th-century London, where he moved in the worlds of theatre, literature, journalism and politics.