Description: The immediate forerunner of the bicycle, the velocipede inspired a cultural craze in late 1860s France that reflected changing cultural attitudes and challenged gender norms. Velocipedomania is the first in-depth study of this fad and the popular culture it inspired, including translations and illustrations from rare texts.
Review Quotes: "In this engaging and informative book, Corry Cropper and Seth Whidden explore how, in late 1860s France, the forerunner of the bicycle came to be seen as a marker of modernity, freedom and even of national identity . . . A large number of contemporary cartoons and illustrations add to the rich source material--and to the reader's enjoyment."-- "French History"