The Birth of the Elizabethan Age: England in the 1560's (History of Early Modern England) [Paperback]

Norman Jones (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631199322 | ISBN-13: 978-0631199328 | Publication Date: October 17, 1995

This is the first of a new series of books that will tell the history of early modern England from the perspective of those living at the time. Norman Jones' fascinating account details both the individual preoccupations (such as illness and famine) and the larger historical changes (such as fears over the succession and the establishment of Protestantism) which dominated life during the 1560s.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Norman Jones has really brought the age and its people fully to life, approaching them from all conceivable angles and in every aspect of their lives, private and public. For once we really live with the generality of Englishmen and women. At the same time, the role and actions of the ruling sort are not left out: everything is most convincingly knit together. This is a major achievement, and I especially admired the way in which the author managed to instil in the reader the joy he had in putting this book together." Sir Geoffrey Elton, Clare College, Cambridge

"His book is delightful, truly informative, and creative." The Virginia Quarterly Review

"Provocative and exciting, his treatment is nothing less than exemplary. The text is documented thoroughly and is supplemented with 15 illustrations." Choice

From the Back Cover

The 1560s saw the settling of a number of issues that had been plaguing Tudor England since the reign of Henry VIII. With the accession of Elizabeth I the Henrican succession was complete, Protestantism finally victorious and entangling dynastic wars ended. No sooner were these resolved, however, than they rose again in new forms as fear over the succession, religious dissent and ideological commitment began to reshape foreign and domestic concerns. The high politics of the decade, as well as its religious history, concentrated on these issues.

Norman Jones draws heavily on both primary and secondary works to provide a fascinating account of life in the 1560s through the voices of contemporaries. His account will be fascinating reading for anyone interested in this period.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (October 17, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631199322
• ISBN-13: 978-0631199328
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Look at a Decade of Reform, October 17, 2002

By 

Kyle VanArsdol (Molina, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Birth of the Elizabethan Age: England in the 1560's (History of Early Modern England) (Paperback)

Dr. Norman Jones a leading intellectual in the history of early modern Britain and the author of such titles as Faith by Statute: Parliament and the Settlement of Religion, God and the
Moneylenders. Usury and Law in Early Modern England, most recently The English Reformation: Religion and Cultural Adaptation includes The Birth of the Elizabethan Age.
England in the 1560s to his growing corpus of work. In this comprehensive account of one of England's most historically fascinating decades, Jones attempts to present the reader with a vivid, down to earth account of the 1560s from the point of view of the people who lived during the time. Jones proves his scholarly versatility in this account by not limiting it to just the religious, political, cultural, or social aspects of the time but by necessity crosses each one and ties them together in order to depict this tumultuous time in England.

Jones begins in 1558 with the death of Queen Mary I and the tense but joyful celebration of a new monarch. This is the perfect place to begin not just because it gives the historical
background necessary for understanding the 1560s but Jones also importantly sets the mood and emotional tone that comprised the entire decade. The ambiguity, procrastination and the down
right refusal of Elizabeth to clearly determine religion, marry, and name a heir gave her the opportunity to "gain firm control over her realm, prevented a Catholic revolt or even her
excommunication until the end of the decade, and created the Puritan movement (19)." This political genius on the part of Elizabeth prevented war and preserved her power but left great
confusion particularly regarding religion and the social expectations of women, specifically the duties of a queen.

In his chapter on Protestant discontents with the Elizabethan settlement and its sister chapter on Catholicism, Jones paints the picture of the religious tensions and confusion of both groups with fine brush strokes. The main players in the continuing English Reformation process are introduced and given proper attention for the parts they played in either resisting or pushing for reform. Pithily he mentions and discusses the Protestant concerns with discipline and ecclesiastical government (53) and the hopes and schemes of the Catholics, essential for understanding the period.

In an inductive manner he recreates from original documents the colorful past, plentiful in intrigue in both senses of the word. In his chapter on royal marriage, the scandalous stories of Elizabeth's courtships and her love for the Earl of Leicester are featured along with Mary Queen of Scots' tragic love life and political manipulations.

By writing from the point of view of the prominent and not so prominent figures of the time, Jones clearly shows the reader all of the political, cultural, and intellectual aspects of what the poor wretches endured in Merry O' England. This book is not only a historical text about the 1560s, it reads like a soap opera giving the reader windows into the public and private lives of the people. The style of the author is similar to a novel in the sense that a particular person and string of thought is followed throughout the book. For instance, John Whythorne is mentioned early as predicting the trouble of a changed monarch, later about his religious convictions, he is a main character in Jones' chapter on marriage, and he appears in the chapters on family values, carpe diem, making a living, and the epilogue. This format is superior to a biography but with the
same emotional connection. Jones allows you to feel for the people mentioned in the stories; you can sympathize with their suffering, their confusion, and occasional rejoicing.

This book is not just for intellectuals and scholars interested in this period, but it can be of use for anyone interested in the complexities that are involved in cultural and religious adaptation. Beyond that, the way it tells the story of the English people is entertaining and as good for curling up with on a rainy day as it is an important historical interpretation by a leader in the field.

Kyle VanArsdol