Description: The Essex village of Earls Colne, one of the most studied parishes in England, has been the subject of an ongoing research project to collate its collection of historical documents. This book offers a fresh approach to the village's early modern cultural and political world by focussing on the social relationships that bound the community together within its mental and physical landscape. MacKinnon reconstructs the dynamics of Earls Colne by examining how spaces within society were generated, gendered and governed, and how this was documented in the records, names and monuments of the parish.
Review Quotes: 'MacKinnon's book contains much of interest, and her case studies reveal some fascinating characters which provide a glimpse of society within early modern Earls Colne.' Reviews in History 'The book is richer and more valid than [expected]... We do get a social history, which is enhanced by the recognition that artifacts can tell us as much as documents. Through this case study of one village, MacKinnon constructs a model that could be applied almost anywhere, one that gives clues about the lives, the memories, and the motivations of people who are now long dead.' American Historical Review ... this is an engaging and finely crafted piece of work. Renaissance Quarterly