Description
Explores the history of Britain, emphasizing its political relations and important connections between its three kingdoms and the continental powers. He also calls into question what makes British history unique, or indeed if there is such a thing as a singular "British" history. Giving equal weight to the role of Britain and European countries, Houlbrooke also analyzes political and religious events, locating them in the broader picture of the society, economics and culture of the time.
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This is a book of "British" history with a focus on Britain's relationship with Europe. It explores the extent to which there is something special or different about British history. The book has three organizing themes: narrative, connection, and comparison. It recounts the history of Britain during this period, with an emphasis on political relations and other connections among the three kingdoms, and between them and the continental powers. Houlbrooke shows how, over the course of this epoch, Britain assumed a more active role in the traffic of ideas, as well as goods. He compares and contrasts the development of key institutions and structures -- constitutional, religious, social -- in Britain with that of relevant European counterparts.
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