Nope, you don't get off that easy--Shagan goes back to the sources to look at what kind of role the English people played in the Reformation. While heNope, you don't get off that easy--Shagan goes back to the sources to look at what kind of role the English people played in the Reformation. While he agrees with previous assessments that the Ref. in England was primarily political rather than theological, and by no means an overnight success, he shows how the common people were present at every step of the way: sometimes as deliberate audience, sometimes as very active participants....more
A master class in how to find and tell women's stories when the sources don't want you to. In addition to uncovering the life and death of a world of A master class in how to find and tell women's stories when the sources don't want you to. In addition to uncovering the life and death of a world of women who brewed ale in medieval England for their families and as a profession, Bennett explains in depth how she used different types of court records, civic ordinances, art, guild archives, and literature to build her argument....more
A thrilling account of the emergence of the game of cricket within colonial India. Guha seeks to understand how this very "English" game came to captuA thrilling account of the emergence of the game of cricket within colonial India. Guha seeks to understand how this very "English" game came to capture the Indian imagination. This is social history of a superb kind....more
A useful account of the emergence of the questions of the legal, paralegal and illegal in the colonial context. Singha looks at issues of justice, penA useful account of the emergence of the questions of the legal, paralegal and illegal in the colonial context. Singha looks at issues of justice, penal reform, and the emergence of "criminal tribes", to narrate an interesting account of the colonial legal history....more
A comprehensive account of the modern Indian colonial period from the late 19th century until independence. Sarkar manages to weld the more nationalisA comprehensive account of the modern Indian colonial period from the late 19th century until independence. Sarkar manages to weld the more nationalist-oriented historiography with an array of sources that highlight the popular, everyday nature of the anti-colonial struggle. A very good primer into the colonial history of the Indian subcontinent....more
Amazing history of "progressive" thought and politics as a trans-atlantic phenomenon.Amazing history of "progressive" thought and politics as a trans-atlantic phenomenon....more
Provides an excellent look at how the actions of African Americans, Loyalists and Native Americans complicate our understanding of the Revolution as sProvides an excellent look at how the actions of African Americans, Loyalists and Native Americans complicate our understanding of the Revolution as simply a political upheaval....more
Gives a concise and insightful account of how British colonists were spurred to revolt due to their conflicting understandings of British law. This boGives a concise and insightful account of how British colonists were spurred to revolt due to their conflicting understandings of British law. This book reminds us that American identity was yet to be formed, explaining what it meant to be a British subject in America....more
Giles Milton is definitely popular, rather than academic, history, but he has a great readable style and his books seem to be well researched. This boGiles Milton is definitely popular, rather than academic, history, but he has a great readable style and his books seem to be well researched. This book is about the precursors to the Jamestown colony in Virginia, including the lost colony of Roanoke....more
A very well written account of the Jamestown colony, including a lot of detailed build up explaining the background to the colony's founding. Almost aA very well written account of the Jamestown colony, including a lot of detailed build up explaining the background to the colony's founding. Almost as much of the book is set in England as it is in the new colony....more
You can read this after Call the Midwife, because they go together. Sandbrook's monumental history of Britain from 1956 to 1962 explores whether, and You can read this after Call the Midwife, because they go together. Sandbrook's monumental history of Britain from 1956 to 1962 explores whether, and how, Britain had "never had it so good" - how Britain emerged from the austerity of the war years into a world of consumerism and the stirrings of change. But - as Jennifer Worth shows us - not everyone had it so good. Sandbrook also balances his social history with his political history very well, and relates complicated events like the Suez crisis in a way that's easy to understand....more
Why is it that British colonialism made the largest impact, in terms of lasting sense of Anglo-connections, whether with America or Australia? In a soWhy is it that British colonialism made the largest impact, in terms of lasting sense of Anglo-connections, whether with America or Australia? In a somewhat controversial book, Belich draws attention both to the economic cycles that made the British Empire the paramount power, and the revolution in settlerism as an ideology that allowed for a wide-ranging cultural expansion....more
This book used to be really hard to find, but now that it's a PBS miniseries it's substantially easier. Anyways, Jennifer Worth was a midwife working This book used to be really hard to find, but now that it's a PBS miniseries it's substantially easier. Anyways, Jennifer Worth was a midwife working in the East End of London in the 1950s (1957 - 59, I think), and her writing explores both the medical profession in the 1950s and the poverty of the East End. Worth doesn't get into issues of class the way she probably could have - Worth was a middle-class woman working in decidedly working-class condition - but they are there, and worth thinking about....more
An in depth social study of the population of Britain from the Union between England and Scotland until the reforms of the 1830s and their relationshiAn in depth social study of the population of Britain from the Union between England and Scotland until the reforms of the 1830s and their relationship with Britain and the development of a British identity....more
This covers the development of a political awareness amongst the lower orders of British society from the late 18th century through to the mid 19th ceThis covers the development of a political awareness amongst the lower orders of British society from the late 18th century through to the mid 19th century and provides a detailed account of popular counter-politics in this period....more
A bit more specific but the best account of perhaps the most interesting period of religious change in English History by one of its greatest historiaA bit more specific but the best account of perhaps the most interesting period of religious change in English History by one of its greatest historians, though it is quite a dense book....more
A fantastic collection of essays relating to the Tudors including some really insightful ones on culture, religion, and the fringe areas of the BritisA fantastic collection of essays relating to the Tudors including some really insightful ones on culture, religion, and the fringe areas of the British Isles - great for both dipping in for short chapter-length essays but also for detailed study....more
A really good introduction to the period with plenty of detailed analysis of the major events that occurred under the Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII-ElizaA really good introduction to the period with plenty of detailed analysis of the major events that occurred under the Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII-Elizabeth I)...more