The intensive study of particular localities and communities characterizes much recent work in social history. Volume One draws on this approach to present a series of chapters on the social history of various regions of the British Isles. Two introductory chapters on the countryside and on the city balance the geographical specificity of the other chapters, showing how the social cohesion of regional communities is strongly influenced by regional economies. Regions and Communities offers important new perspectives on the links between economic and social history and the interaction of economy and society.