Generations: Age, Ancestry, and Memory in the English Reformations

This book explores England's plural and protracted Reformations through the lens of generations, demonstrating how the religious developments of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were shaped by and transformed the generations. It highlights the role of families in these upheavals, using archival evidence and printed texts to offer poignant glimpses of individual lives and the impact of the Reformations on families.

Format: Hardback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate and multifaceted Reformations of England by examining them through the lens of generations. By treating generation as both a biological unit and a social cohort, it reveals that the turbulent religious transformations that unfolded across the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries not only reshaped the generations but were also deeply influenced by them. Through compelling insights, it sheds light on how individuals navigated the profound challenges posed by these Reformations in their daily lives.

Alexandra Walsham delves into the intricate relationship between age, ancestry, and the theological and cultural upheavals of the era. She explores how these factors reconfigured the interconnectedness between memory, history, and time. Generations explores the profound ways in which the Reformations shaped the horizontal relationships between men, women, and children, as well as the vertical connections that bound them to their deceased ancestors and their future heirs. It highlights the crucial role that families, united by both blood and faith, played in shaping current events and preserving the past for generations to come.

Drawing on a wealth of previously untapped archival evidence and a diverse range of printed texts, visual images, and material objects, this study provides poignant glimpses into individual lives and sheds fascinating light on the complex dynamics that families experienced during the English Reformations. It offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the profound impact that these historical events had on individuals and families, highlighting both the divisions and the bonds that were formed during this transformative period.

Weight: 1102g
Dimension: 241 x 167 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198854036