[.ca] The Birth of the Elizabethan Age: England in the 1560's (ISBN 0631199322)

A Great Look at a Decade of Reform:
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