Family and Kinship in England, 1450-1800

While historians have made the history of family life a key area of scholarly study, the diversity of methods, sources, areas of interest and conclusions this has produced, have made it one of the most difficult for readers to approach.~Family & Kinship in England 1450-1800 guides the reader through the changing relationships that made up the nature of family life. It gives a clear introduction to many of the intriguing areas of interest that this field of history has opened up, including childhood, youth, marriage, sexuality and death. The book provides: *An understanding of how the family has developed from the late medieval period to the beginnings of industrialisation. *A synthesis of the varied work of other historians, which helps to understand the often disjointed or contradictory research into this area. *A glossary of technical terms used by historians to describe the family in the past. *Contemporary documents and illustrations, allowing readers to familiarise themselves with the business of understanding people in the past.~ Written in an engaging and accessible manner, Family & Kinship in England 1450-1800 stimulates interest in a fascinating topic and allows readers to pursue their own interests in the history of family life in the past. ~Will Coster is a Senior Lecturer in History at De Montfort University, Bedford.