Quarter Days and the Economic Outlook

About this episode

The episode explores the historical significance of quarter days in relation to economic practices and literary references.

In 19th century English novels, so-called “quarter days” often provided a chronological backdrop to the plot. A relic of medieval times, the quarter days were Lady Day (March 25th), Midsummer Day (June 24th), Michaelmas (September 29th) and Christmas Day (December 25th). These were the dates upon which rents were paid, leases expired and employment contracts took effect. Quarter days were often when the landlords of Austen expected their income, the impoverished families of Dickens had to cough up their rents and the farmworkers of Hardy would move on to their next place of employment. In short, they were days of accounting and reckoning.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. David Kelly

Topics covered

• economic outlook
• quarter days
• historical context
• rent payments
• employment contracts

Keywords

• quarter days
• economic outlook
• 19th century
• rent
• employment contracts
• Austen
• Dickens
• Hardy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: 19th century English novels

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