The Masquerade — Meghan Kobza
A vivid exploration of spectacle, space and social performance in Georgian Britain.
In The Masquerade, Meghan Kobza reconstructs the extravagant world of 18th-century London’s most fashionable entertainments—immersive events staged in theatres, pleasure gardens and opulent interiors. Behind masks and elaborate costumes, elite guests performed identity, status and desire within carefully curated settings.
Bringing together architectural, social and material culture, Kobza reveals how the masquerade became a powerful expression of wealth, consumption and urban life. These charged environments—equal parts theatre, architecture and event—offer a compelling lens on how design, spectacle and behaviour intersect.
For architects and built environment readers, this is a richly illustrated account of temporary and theatrical spaces, and their role in shaping cultural experience and social hierarchy.
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780300276213
Publication date: 12 May 2026