Marriage, Debt, and the Estates System: English Landownership, 1650-1950 Hardcover – October 27, 1994

This major study by a leading British historian examines the social and legal foundations of the British ruling class--the great landlords and the gentry--from the late seventeenth century, when it freed itself from many of the constraints of royal power, to the twentieth century, when it was subsumed by mass democracy. Habakkuk's comprehensive book addresses the question of why, in the first industrial nation, the landed elite so long retained its role. This thorough examination of the structure of the landed family, its estate, and its relations with other social groups sheds light on this problem, and makes a major contribution to historical debate. It will be of interest to scholars and students of early modern and modern British history, especially social, economic, legal, and family historians. Read more