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The 1720s: 1720–1729
1720–1729 · worldwide, all places
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South Sea shares collapsed from 1,000 pounds to 100 in 1720, ruining thousands of British investors and discrediting stock markets for a century. Robert Walpole managed the cleanup and became Britain's first prime minister, while in Paris the regent traded princesses with Spain to seal the peace of 1721.
The 1720 crash taught England to fear paper wealth. The French film The Royal Exchange dramatizes the 1721 princess swaps between Paris and Madrid, and the Korean film The Age of Blood sets a prison-break plot in the Joseon court of 1728. Open the 1720s on the StoryTerra map and explore its stories by place.
10 famous stories set in the 1720s
Live snapshot of the top 10 most popular catalogue items (2026-09-05). Click any card to open this entry on the live map.
Browse 8 books and 4 movies set in the 1720s (1720–1729).
The Royal Exchange
After many years of confrontation the treasures of Spain and France are empty. In 1721 the regent of France draws up an ambitious plan to inaugurate an era of peace and prosperity that will heal the economies of both…
Gulliver's Travels
For the last 250 years people everywhere have enjoyed reading about Lemuel Gulliver's travels in the strange countries of Lilliput and Brobdingnag. The people of these countries, with all their curiously human failings,…
Foe
With the same electrical intensity of language and insight that he brought to Waiting for the Barbarians , J.M. Coetzee reinvents the story of Robinson Crusoe—and in so doing, directs our attention to the seduction and…
The Age of Blood
Ancient Korea 1728. Swordsman Kim Ho guard of King Yeong-jo of Joseon is demoted and sent to work in Uigeumbu prison. When night falls the prison is assaulted by the master warrior Do Man-cheol and his powerful henchmen…
The Maiden
1720: political intrigue besets the kingdom as the Stuarts try to claim the throne occupied by the Hanoverians and the Morlands have to use all their wiles to keep their fortunes intact. Jeremy Morland, sole heir to his…
La cocinera de Castamar
Clara, una joven caída en desgracia, sufre de agorafobia desde que perdió a su padre de forma repentina. Gracias a su prodigiosa cocina logra acceder al ducado de Castamar como oficial, trastocando con su llegada el…
Satisfaction 1720
Set in the year 1720 the story is about what happens to 29-year-old Tordenskiold when the Great Northern War ends and he doesn't know what to do with the rest of his life. His trusted valet persuades him to go on a…
The Accidental Gangster
Korea 1724. Once upon a time in the Choson Dynasty Chun-doong falls in love at first sight with a beautiful woman whilst in the middle of a fight.When she is delivered by accident to Chun-doong's tavern to work as a…
Wild Waters
An army of shadows has been amassed. Its one goal: to destroy the Pirate Lords for their Shadow Master--an alchemist who has created a special gold that grants him unfathomable power. But the soothsayer, Tia Dalma has…
The Requiem Shark
William Williams is forced into an apprenticeship with ex-slaver turned pirate Bartholomew Roberts. Set in the 18th century, the novel follows the captain and crew and their quest for treasure whilst evading the British…
The 10 stories above are just a sample of the 12 in the catalogue for this entry. For the live 1720–1729 catalogue, use the button above — or browse the whole 18th century. On the live map you can also filter by the exact time the stories take place — any year, decade or century, from BCE to the future.
Relevant picks from this decade
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Historic Edinburgh: 1600–1900 — From medieval Old Town and the imposing castle to the intellectual vibrancy of the Scottish Enlightenment and beyond — a center of politics,… Explore Historic Edinburgh: 1600–1900
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