Earthly Necessities : Economic Lives in Early Modern Britain - Softcover

Keith Wrightson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140250018 ISBN 13: 9780140250015

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2002

Synopsis

This important new book, widely praised in hardcover (Yale UP) redefines the economic history of early modern Britain for a new generation of readers. Wrightson writes evocatively about the basic institutions and relationships of economic life, tracing the process of change, and examining how these changes affected men, women and children at all social levels. Novel in its structure, scope, and emphasis on the lived experience of the period, the book vividly demonstrates the gains and costs of economic change.

About this title

From the Publisher:

The New Economic History of Britain Series

From the Back Cover:

"This is a wonderful book; profoundly learned, brilliantly conceptualized, confidently and clearly and vividly written. It is truly a distinguished piece of work."—John Morrill, Cambridge University "This . . . is a splendid book, beautifully organized, mellifluously written, and powerfully evocative of the birthpangs of market culture. It convincingly shows why economic history matters; why the time is right for a new synthesis; and why there has been such long-standing concern with the early modern period as a time of change. "—Steve Hindle, Rural History "Wrightson's innovativeness lies in interweaving social and economic literatures into a coherent whole and in covering Wales and Scotland. His well-written, scholarly prose is accessible . . . highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries."—Library Journal "A highly accomplished and richly textured survey."—Paul Slack, Times Literary Supplement "Wrightson has written a splendid book that will define early modern British social history for the next generation. . . . In beautifully crafted prose . . . he begins with a fine historiographical essay, manages to include Scotland and Wales, and closes with a useful bibliography. . . . Must reading for anyone with a serious interest in European social and economic history."—Choice "An excellent synthesis, well informed, well nuanced [and] readable. . . . A very effective account of a long and complex transition in British economic life, a transition characterized by the advance of commercialization."—James Sharpe, History Today "Magisterial . . . the best introduction to current interpretations of early modern Britain."—Martin Daunton, Times Higher Education Supplement "Well informed, well nuanced, [and] readable. . . . A very effective account of a long and complex transition in British economic life, a transition characterized by the advance of commercialization."—James Sharpe, History Today "I know of no other work which shows so vividly what the long transition to a market society meant for those involved, and how . . . it came about."—Paul Slack, Times Literary Supplement "A remarkable book, particularly in the manner in which it weaves together aspects of economic, social, political, and intellectual and cultural history. . . . It is elegantly written, measured and immensely stimulating."—Nigel Goose, Reviews of History

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0140250018
• ISBN 13: 9780140250015
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384