The Revolt of the Masses or New Worlds Lost Worlds

The Revolt of the Masses

Author: Jos Ortega y Gasset

Social upheaval in early twentieth-century Europe is the historical setting for this seminal study by the Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset of the 'mass man'-the phenomenon of mass culture that more than any other factor stamps the character of modern life.

Books about: Food Engineering Aspects of Baking Sweet Goods or Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down

New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule of the Tudors, 1485-1603

Author: Susan Brigden

No period in British history has more resonance and mystery today than the sixteenth century. New Worlds, Lost Worlds brings the atmosphere and events of this great epoch to life. Exploring the underlying religious motivations for the savage violence and turbulence of the period-from Henry VIII's break with Rome to the overwhelming threat of the Spanish Armada-Susan Brigden investigates the actions and influences of such near-mythical figures as Elizabeth I, Thomas More, Bloody Mary, and Sir Walter Raleigh. Authoritative and accessible, New Worlds, Lost Worlds, the latest in the Penguin History of Britain series, provides a superb introduction to one of the most important, compelling, and intriguing periods in the history of the Western world.

Library Journal

This is a splendid piece of scholarship that engages the reader's imagination; Brigden's (history, Lincoln Coll., Oxford) extensive research has paid off in spades. While readers may find themselves running to the OED to check words and concepts long forgotten, the chase is worth it. The title hints at the lost worlds of this dramatic era in Britain, beginning with the early years of Henry VII and carrying forward through the fascinating dynastic and religious struggles of Henry VIII; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Elizabeth I. The book covers not only England but Ireland, Scotland, and Wales as well, and scholars of this period will come away with refreshing insights into this remarkable period. General readers will be equally delighted because the writing is so fluid and accessible. The chapter on social life and customs, "Family and Friends," could stand alone as a single book on Tudor times. Highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries. Gail Benjafield, St. Catharines P.L., Ont. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A history of the Tudor reign, which solidified the power of the crown amid great religious tumult. The Tudors ruled during one of the most awkward stages of English history. Henry IV came to power by the sword, defeating the dastardly Richard III, who had murdered his rivals to the throne. The first Tudor wasn't much more humane, however, and he kept a ruthless grip on the nobility, who every now and then raised armies against him. Oxford historian Brigden (London and the Reformation, not reviewed) provides the well-known tales of court intrigue and chivalry as well as the social context for these changes. She describes the difference between the aristocracy, gentry, and commoners (discussing at length the crisis instigated by the country's focus on sheep herding rather than other forms of agriculture, for example). The author also brings in literature of the day (e.g., Thomas More's Utopia) to illustrate trends in the era's political thought. These asides come frequently, as a new monarch always pops up to replace the old: Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I succeed each other in dramas springing mostly from the Reformation. Mary reversed the direction of her father's church, delivering the nation back into the hands of Spain and the Hapsburgs, only to die childless, with Elizabeth waiting behind her. The author successfully conveys how switching back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism was a sea change for the people: in 1553, when Mary assumed power, half the population was under 20 and had no recollection of the Catholic faith. Elizabeth, the last Tudor, is the most charming. Brigden portrays Elizabeth, the patron of Shakespeare, as the first and only softheartedTudor. She concluded treaties with Scotland and told her governors in Ireland to rule by persuasion rather than force (the governors didn't listen). She reluctantly executed Mary Queen of Scots. And when the Irishman Hugh O'Neill revolted against her, she offered him pardon. A treat for Tudor afficionados, but others might find this a heavy read.

Table of Contents:

	List of Illustrations
	Preface
	About Dates and Names
	Prologue: New Worlds, Lost Worlds	1
1	Rather Feared than Loved: Henry VII and his Dominions, 1485-1509	7
2	Family and Friends: Religion and Society in Early Tudor England	38
3	Ways to Reform: The Challenge to the Church	84
4	Imperium: Henry VIII and the Reformation in England, 1509-47	101
5	Bearing Rule: The Governors and the Governed	140
6	Rebuilding the Temple: The Reigns of Edward VI (1547-53) and Mary I (1553-8)	179
7	'Perils many, great and imminent': The Challenge of Securing Peace, 1558-70	213
8	Wars of Religion: Churches Militant in England, Ireland and Europe, 1570-84	239
9	The Enterprise of England: New World Ventures and the Coming of War with Spain in the 1580s	274
10	The Theatre of God's Judgements: Elizabethan World Views	295
11	Court and Camp: The Last Years of Elizabeth's Reign	311
	Epilogue: Lost Worlds, New Worlds	358
	Bibliographical Essay	368
	Index	400