The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting (eBook)

The author identified as R. H. emerges from historical anonymity primarily through his work 'The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting.' Unfortunately, there are scant details available regarding his personal life, historical context or any comprehensive body of work. Hence, it remains challenging to piece together a scholarly and detailed biography. R. H.'s contribution to literature, notably in the aforementioned book, reflects an interest in what was, during certain historical periods, a popular and socially significant pastime. This sport, which has since fallen out of favor due to changing social attitudes and animal welfare laws, was once a significant aspect of European, especially British, social life and culture. The book by R. H., possibly first published in the late 17th or early 18th century, provides insight into the rules, breeding, care and cultural impact of cock-fighting, which at the time could have been indicative of a keen observer or participant in the sport. The detailed nature of the treatise suggests that R. H. held a passion for the subject, and it has historical value for researchers examining the period's sports and pastimes. Given the scant information on R. H.'s background and the literary style which does not extensively feature in broader literature, the scholarly community must often content itself with analysis of his known work, without the enriching context of an authorial biography.