The achievement is notable indeed . These are good, solid, helpful
works of learning; the production is excellent and the books almost
too elegant for their purpose.
*THE SPECTATOR*
Here is real treasure: a new and infinitely more comprehensive
Dictionary of National Biography . not only comprehensive, it is
splendidly detailed as well. All (upper class) Tudor life is here:
the criss-cross channels of descent that operated like a complex
lottery suddenly to shower wealth on obscure third cousins: the
tendency of bright young men to marry rich old widows and so have
no children (at least not born in wedlock); the ruthless pursuit of
advancing in local politics that often made the early Tudor
courtier JP the too-obvious heir of the fifteenth century bastard
feudal retainer - only more dangerous because his lord was the
King; and (refreshingly) the fondness of building and literature
that we see as relaxations from politics but they understood as
their continuation.
*HISTORY TODAY*
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
