Book

Elizabethans at home

Stanford University Press • Stanford, Calif. • Published In 1957 • Pages:

By: Pearson, Lu Emily.

Abstract

This source presents a highly detailed and uniformly excellent study of social life and social organization in the Elizabethan period, with variations noted for class, religious, and rural-urban differences. The author synthesizes data from a wide range of source materials, varying from contemporary Elizabethan writings to modern studies of the period. (There is some resort to early Stuart period writings and history, indexed as Comparative Materials and/or Sociocultural Trends where pertinent.) Much of the information in the source relevant to social life and organization is contained in chapters dealing with the house and gardens, household and family relationships, education, marriage and the establishment of a family and household, changes in the family brought about by a death, and, perhaps most interestingly of all for the general reader, a chapter devoted to the various interests and leisure time activities of the Elizabethans, such as games, sports, and other forms of entertainment, music and dancing, holiday activities, food and meals, clothing styles, and toilet. Political behavior and church-state relations are only lightly covered.

Region

Europe

Sub Region

British Isles

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Historian

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle; 1977

Field Date

not applicable

Coverage Date

1558-1603

Coverage Place

England and Wales, United Kingdom

Notes

by Lu Emily Pearson

Titles of chapters in this source are: I Homes and gardens; II Fathers and mothers; III Education of children; IV Sons and daughters; V Preparation for marriage; VI Founding and maintaining the home; VII Changes wrought by death; VIII Elizabethans at home; bibliography; index.

Information on Elizabethan social life, derived from or illustrated in contemporary Elizabethan literature or the so-called “conduct books” of the period, has been marked for category 538 plus whatever other substantive categories that may apply. For example, a “conduct book” dealing with the “proper” education of a young woman would be marked for category 538 in addition to 871 for education, and 562 for sex status.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 611-623)

LCCN

57009305

LCSH

England--Social life and customs--16th century