Description:
First published in 1982, Augustan England provides ample substance to reinforce the thesis that the years from 1680 to 1730 mark the most decisive stage in the rise of the English professional classes before the 19th century.
Review Quotes:
Review of the Original Publication:
"Let us be clear at the outset what this book is not. It is not an account of England in the Augustan period. Quite specifically, it is a social and institutional history of the professions during the half-century when, according to the author, they were transformed in character and numbers. With this caveat, Augustan England is an extremely useful addition to the historiography of the period, sharpening our awareness of the development of an important occupational segment of the population, and deepening our understanding of English society on the eve of the industrial revolution."
- Ian Gentles, Vol. 17 No. 34 (1984), Histoire Sociale-Social History