England in the 1670s: This Masquerading Age (History of Early Modern England)

The 1670s were the heyday of Restoration England - a period of experimentation, politicization, and strife. This decade was a crucial period in England's history, yet surprisingly little has been written about it. This book - the first full-length study of the period - fills this gap in the literature by exploring the richness and complexity of the decade, and by challenging existing assumptions about it. For those new to the period this book contains the full story of politics, war, and religion, as well as a clear account of the popish plot and exclusion crises. More than this, however, it is indispensable for anyone who wants to fully understand Restoration history, literature or society. Drawing on maps, sermons, diaries, tracts, news and a range of literary sources to explore subjects as diverse as prostitution, piety, wit, cartography, commerce, heroism, and the 'talk of the town', England in the 1670s paints a revealing and vibrant portrait of a society grappling with change.