Suffering and Happiness in England 1550-1850: Narratives and Representations: A collection to honour Paul Slack

Suffering and Happiness in England 1550-1850 honors Paul Slack, a renowned historian of early modern England, and explores the themes of suffering and happiness through his publications. The chapters examine shifting discourses of happiness and suffering, their deployment for specific purposes, and their relationship to subjective experience. The editors suggest that the history of emotions is a terrain where historians with diverse knowledge, interests, and skills can intersect.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Suffering and Happiness in England 1550-1850 is a groundbreaking work that pays tribute to one of the foremost historians working on early modern England, Paul Slack. It delves into Slack's remarkable career as a historian and engages in a thought-provoking discussion with the rapidly expanding field of research on the history of emotions. Throughout his publications, Slack explores the profound themes of suffering and happiness, with the first being more prominent in his early works on plague and poverty, while the second emerges in his more recent contributions to conceptual frameworks for social thought and action. While Slack himself has not directly engaged with the history of emotions, assembling essays on these themes presents an invaluable opportunity to delve into this rich and complex realm.

The chapters in this book explore the shifting discourses of happiness and suffering across different periods, examining how these discourses are deployed for specific purposes at particular moments. They also explore the intricate relationship between these discourses and subjective experiences, shedding light on the ways in which individuals navigate and interpret their emotional lives. In their introduction, the editors acknowledge the diverse approaches that can be taken to the study of the history of emotions. They suggest that it is best approached as a terrain that fosters the crossing of many paths, where historians with diverse knowledge, interests, and skills can converge and contribute to our understanding of this field.

The history of emotions offers a rich and fertile ground for encounter and collaboration among historians. It provides a platform for historians to bridge disciplinary boundaries, drawing upon insights from various fields such as psychology, sociology, history, and literature. By exploring the emotional experiences of individuals and communities, historians can gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and political contexts in which they lived. Moreover, the history of emotions can shed light on the complex interplay between individual agency and broader social structures, challenging traditional narratives of power and control.

In conclusion, Suffering and Happiness in England 1550-1850 is a groundbreaking work that celebrates the contributions of Paul Slack as a historian and engages in a vital discussion with the growing field of research on the history of emotions. Through its exploration of the themes of suffering and happiness, the book offers valuable insights into the emotional experiences of individuals and communities in early modern England. It encourages historians to approach the study of emotions as a terrain that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and offers a rich source of knowledge for understanding the past and shaping the future.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 232 x 152 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192867285