Augustan England: Professions, State and Society, 1680-1730

First published in 1982, Augustan England provides ample substance to reinforce the thesis that the years from 1680 to 1730 mark the most decisive stage in the rise of the English professional classes before the 19th century, and that this had profound consequences in maintaining the relative ‘openness’ of 18th century society until the advent of industrialization.

This book provides the first ever authoritative study of the professions, as a whole, before the Victorian age. The spectacular ...