The Elizabethan Renaissance: The Cultural Achievement

By A.L. Rowse

Book Overview

Back in print in a new paperback edition are these two volumes by A.L. Rowse that represent one of the great historical works of our time. They are a master historian's exploration of the social and cultural history of the Elizabethan Age. In The Life of the Society, Mr. Rowse surveys the life of each class of Englishmen from the Court downward, and presents a remarkable portrait of Elizabethan life and of the mentality, conscious and unconscious, to which the way of life gave rise. He portrays the life of the body as well as the life of the mind, including food and sanitation, sports and clothing, customs and beliefs, witchcraft and astrology-even the sex life of Elizabethans. In The Cultural Achievement he chronicles the astonishingly rich cultural flowering that marked the reign of Elizabeth I. He brings vividly to life the age's poetry, music, science, painting, sculpture, minor arts, and, above all, the tightly knit world of the theatre. Abundantly illustrated, together these volumes offer a richly rewarding reading experience.
"The book is so tightly packed with fascinating facts and fresh material that anyone at all seriously interested in Elizabethan England should delight in it."-New York Times.
"The Elizabethan Renaissance is created in such brilliant color and clarity that the reader can never forget it."-Irving Stone.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566633168
• ISBN13: 9781566633161
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee Publisher
• Length: 428 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Great Book!

The Elizabethan Renaissance: The Life of the Society by the renowned historian of Elizabethan England A.L. Rowse is a fascinating look at life in this most remarkable period. Unlike many "social histories" which deal primarily with the upper classes of society, Mr. Rowse gives equal time to all, from the Court and the landed gentry to the middle and lower classes, examining in great detail all elements of life. He presents a complete portrait of human nature of this time, with chapters on customs, religion, sport, food, sanitation, sex, and a noteworthy examination of the Elizabethans' obsession with what we now call "New Age," featuring such topics as astrology, witchcraft, sorcery, and alchemy.It is a truly entertaining book, filled with facts and "trivia," that makes the Elizabethan world come alive. Although some passages can be rather dense--it helps tremendously to have at least a basic knowledge of the major personalities--it is a must read for anyone interested in the Elizabethan period.