The Oxford illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain by John Morrill
The Oxford illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain is edited by John Morrill and it is a compilation of chapters on different aspects of that period, each one authored by another historian. I have to say that I didn’t read all the book because I was interested in the Tudor periods and skim read the Stuart parts. This is a book I would borrow again from the library if I was to study the Stuart period. The chapters are very well written, with lots of interesting information and I’ve enjoyed them.
I’m going to give an example. The chapter on Family, Household, and Community, written by Amy Louise Erickson was great. It was very interesting to discover that midwives were licenced by the church, but only if they could present six testimonials and they had to take an oath: not to hide or change babies, not to kill babies, not to extort money from women, to ensure Anglican baptism, and not to use witchcraft.
There is a chapter on aristocracy, but there is one on the commons too. Theatre has its own chapter and so does law. The topics are varied and that makes the book delightful to read. Furthermore, as the name suggests, there are plenty of illustrations in the book, paintings, photographs, book covers, and letters. Those really bring the history to life.
The Oxford illustrated history of Tudor and Stuart Britain by John Morrill
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My rating: 5/5 Stars
Would I recommend it: Yes
Published by: Oxford University Press
Year it was published: 2001
Format: Paperback
Genre(s): History
Pages: 487
About the author: John Morrill graduated from Oxford. He taught at universities at both Stirling and Cambridge.
Books by John Morrill include Stuart Britain: A Very Short Introduction; Oliver Cromwell; Reactions to the English Civil War, 1642-1649; Charles I.
Chapters in the book are authored by historians such as Diarmaid MacCulloch, John Guy, Christopher Haigh.
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OUP’s illustrated history books are always great. Would love to read this book, it sounds very interesting.
It sounds like an interesting format for the book, employing different historians. I really enjoyed the excerpt you shared. At first I thought I had a book by that author, but it turns out mine is by Carolly Erickson. Most of my non-fiction British history is from the fourteenth century or earlier.