The English Reformation: Religion and Cultural Adaption

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 272 pages
• Published by: Wiley-Blackwell February 25, 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0631210431
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0631210436
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 14.1 ounces

Product Review
"This is an great book; original in conception, penetrating in analysis, broad in its range of reference, and vivid in the telling." Susan Brigden, Lincoln College, Oxford


"[This book contains] a great deal to fascinated and stimulate debate." Times Literary Supplement


"Jones provides the reader with portraits of the Reformation's impact on people across the social and political spectrum. This is social history at its best. It is detailed without being cluttered and engaging without being gossipy. Highly recommended for general readers, upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers and faculty." D.M. Whitford, Claflin University, in Choice, Nov. 2002


"Norman Jones is a formidable scholar of political history. The last chapter on private virtue stands out as a thoughtful and intricate examination of the difficulties Elizabethans experienced in appealing to conscience as the arbiter of virtue and truth while remaining loyal members of a state run church Jones writes very well [and] the book is a reliable guide to the process of reformation" Ben Lowe, Florida Atlantic University


"Jones' concluding remarks capture the profound significance for the later English and British history of the Protestant culture that was born under the flexible religious policies that prevailed in Elizabeth I's long reign. In its focus on conscience this culture contained within the itself both the source of future conflict and a model for its resolution. It would be most welcome now to extend these deep and important insights about the culture of England's elite into the lives of the lower and middling sort." Renaissance Quarterly

"This is an great book; original in conception, penetrating in analysis, broad in its range of reference, and vivid in the telling." Susan Brigden, Lincoln College, Oxford "[This book contains] a great deal to fascinated and stimulate debate." Times Literary Supplement "Jones provides the reader with portraits of the Reformation's impact on people across the social and political spectrum. This is social history at its best. It is detailed without being cluttered and engaging without being gossipy. Highly recommended for general readers, upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers and faculty." D.M. Whitford, Claflin University, in Choice, Nov. 2002 "Norman Jones is a formidable scholar of political history. The last chapter on private virtue stands out as a thoughtful and intricate examination of the difficulties Elizabethans experienced in appealing to conscience as the arbiter of virtue and truth while remaining loyal members of a state run church Jones writes very well [and] the book is a reliable guide to the process of reformation" Ben Lowe, Florida Atlantic University "Jones' concluding remarks capture the profound significance for the later English and British history of the Protestant culture that was born under the flexible religious policies that prevailed in Elizabeth I's long reign. In its focus on conscience this culture contained within the itself both the source of future conflict and a model for its resolution. It would be most welcome now to extend these deep and important insights about the culture of England's elite into the lives of the lower and middling sort." Renaissance Quarterly

Product Description
This history tells the story of how the English, over three generations, adapted to the religious changes forced upon them by the Reformation and, in doing so, radically reconstructed their culture.

Reader Reviews
In general, Jones does an effective job in describing the generational conformity that occurred in 16th Century England. He uses this as a means to show the slow, gradual transition of the nation from Catholicism to Protestantism. However, in a larger context, Jones could have emphasized more the importance of this in the stability and security of both the monarchy and the sovereignty of the nation. Without this rather slow, albeit unintentional, progression, the situation could have easily collapsed into civil war. Without allowing time for people to restructure their relationships, both personal and public, a return to the chaos of the 15th century could have easily occurred. With each successive reign, there seemed to be attempts to control the pace of reform and that could have been highlighted more strongly. Even the regression of the Marian period offered people who had not quite acclimated themselves to the Edwardian reforms, a chance of hope that all their old "superstitious" ways would not need to be abandoned. This detour from the rabid, radical route of Dudley and his advisors was exactly what was needed to delay things until a more moderate and shrewd Elizabeth could reach the throne.