The Gentleman's Magazine was the leading eighteenth-century periodical. By integrating the magazine's history, readers and contents this study shows how 'gentlemanliness' was reshaped to accommodate their social and political ambitions.

Contains opinions and comment on other currently published newspapers and magazines, a selection of poetry, essays, historical events, voyages, news (foreign and domestic) including news of North America, a register of the month's new publications, a calendar of forthcoming trade fairs, a summary of monthly events, vital statistics (births, deaths, marriages), preferments, commodity prices. Samuel Johnson contributed parliamentary reports as "Debates of the Senate of Magna Lilliputia."

Includes opinions and comment on other currently published newspapers and magazines, a selection of poetry, essays, parliamentary proceedings (beginning July 1732), "A register of books published," advertisements for Jefferies, and "The monthly intelligencer" which includes foreign and domestic news including news of North America, vital statistics (births, deaths, marriages), preferments, bankrupts, bills of mortality (including diseases and casualties), commodity prices, stocks.