An Ordered Society

by Susan Dwyer Amussen

Amussen's vivid account of family and village life in England from the reign of Elizabeth I to the accession of the Hanoverian monarchies describes the domestic economy of the rich and the poor; the processes of courtship, marriage, and marital breakdown; and the structure of power within the family and in rural communities.

Genres: History, 17th Century, 16th Century, Gender

203 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1994

Reviews

[Ella Alt]

I read most of this book but I didn’t fully finish because I had to return it to the library, but basically I began reading this as a way to impress my favorite history prof. who specializes in early modern British history next semester, so if you’re in a similar situation i highly recommend reading this. I enjoyed Amussen’s overall argument that every part of English society was hierarchical, or ordered, in some way. I did feel that at times her argument became bogged down in property dispute details.

[Kathleen Crowell]

Really good book to read with Milton for background info. Easy enough read--not too stuffy.