The Crisis of the Aristocracy, 1558 to 1641

This is a big book and it's generally considered one of the most important works in early modern history published in the second half of the 20th century, as well as one of the most striking examples of historical writing of any kind. Stone's purpose is to examine and describe in the utmost detail every aspect of the lives and behavior of the political and social elite of England during the eighty years between the beginning of the Stewart dynasty and the coming of the Civil War, and in this he succeeds to a phenomenal degree. His methods would mostly not have been practical a couple generations earlier because of a dearth of primary materials, most of which remained inaccessible in private family archives. Since World War II, however, a large number of such archives have been deposited in local Record Offices and many more have been listed by the National Register of Archives, which at least makes their existence known to researchers. Beyond this quantitative study, however, he wants to understand the crisis in relations between the crown, the aristocracy, the landed but untitled gentry, and Parliament -- how Cromwell was able to win in the first place and why the Restoration was so complete and met virtually no opposition.I admit that it's the bulk of the book itself that is of more interest to me: The extended, heavily footnoted discussions of the inflation of honors granted by the Crown, the nuts and bolts of baronial income and investments, the instruments of royal and noble power (violent and otherwise), the management of the great post-feudal estate, the exploitation of non-agricultural resources (mining, steel-making, etc), the nobleman's attraction to (and concomitant hostility toward) London, the burdens of life at court, the political dangers of the peer's inevitable dependence on the Crown, the almost mandatory conspicuous consumption, the wider functions of the aristocratic marriage and the resulting family (both in theory and in practice), education and occasional aristocratic scholarship, and variations in religious attitudes under the Stewarts and the Commonwealth. And those are just the broad topics! This amazing volume requires careful reading at length and considerable extended thought afterward but it's very much worth the effort.

Stone, who died in 1999, established his international reputation with this work, one of the most important books published on Engish history in the last half century. He examines the decline of the Court centered aristocracy as against the provincial squires, with the consequent loss of Parliament and the country. He also mentions the remarkable sequel: the Aristocracy regains its power and prestige, this time leading Parliament. Like all of Stone's work it asks large questions , and dares the reader to analyze it independently. It is a great temptation. I admit that my own prejudices incline me to the view that the landed gentry who backed Cromwell, and the landed gentry who were loyal to the King were not that different from each other, which is why Cromwell was successful (he could easily conciliate his former enemies, who were just like his gentry supporters) and why Cromwells revolution was swept away in an instant with no oppostion(the gentry decided they wanted their King back). It is a testimony to Stone's book that I was forced to think these things through, and that I am still not sure wie es eigentlich war.Rest in peace, Professor Stone. A light has gone out in Princeton.

A sound copy of what has become essential reading. Stone seems to have covered everything, but there are certain lacunae, also his approach could be questioned.