The Ends of Life by Keith Thomas
The Ends of Life examines the ways in which English men and women between the early sixteenth and late eighteenth centuries sought to lead fulfilling lives. In doing so it illuminates the central values of the period, while at the same time throwing incidental light on some of the perennial problems of human existence.
It is full of surprises, packed with information that no one else could have found and so witty and absorbing* Claire Tomalin, The Guardian *
No one else could have broached such an ambitious subject. * Jonathan Sumption, Spectator *
A great historian...remarkable book. * Jonathan Sumption, Spectator *
A compellingly readable book, richly researched, fascinatingly detailed, delightfully written. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
Thomas has formidable organisational ability, and an unerring eye for detail. Almost every page offers something to intrigue, amuse, provoke. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
'The Ends of Life' is a compellingly readable book, richly researched, fascinatingly detailed, delightfully written. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
This is...a masterly series of impressions designed to provoke the reader to further thought and study. * Jonathan Barry, History Today *
It takes phenomenal learning and scholarly chutzpah to pull off a book like this. * Jonathan Wright The Independent *
Pure delight. * John Morrill, BBC History Magazine *
Let's thanks Keith Thomas for writing such a brave and sensitive book. * Jonathan Wright, The Independent *
Any new book by Sir Keith Thomas is a major event. * John Morrill, BBC History Magazine *
It's full of wonderful sentences and phrases. * David Sexton, Evening Standard. *
The Ends of Life is captivating. * David Sexton, Evening Standard *
The sheer wealth and diversity of material in 'The Ends of Life' makes it a fascinating read. * Lisa Jardine, Financial Times *
It is hard indeed to imagine a better introduction to the early modern world. It will be immediately and universally recognized as indispensable, not just for historians, but for anyone with an interest in the past.' * David Wootton, Times Literary Supplement *
Thomas's connecting prose is graceful and sometimes crisply epigrammatic, 'The Ends of Life' is a pleasure to read. * Michael Dirda, Washington Post *
'The Ends of Life'...scatters bright insights into the habits of thought of early modern England. * Graham Parry, The Guardian *
Endlessly fascinating...elegant, incisive and entertaining book. * Tim Blanning, Sunday Telegraph *
The writing is lucid and elegant, peppered with dry wit and overseen by an infallible eye for anecdotes. * Peter Marshall, Literary Review *
Where Thomas excels, as ever, is in his eye for luminous supporting detail. * D. J. Taylor, The Independent *
A teeming historical survey. * Sunday Times *
A triumphal demonstration that one of our leading historians is still at the height of his powers. * Peter Marshall, Literary Review *
Exhilaratingly illuminating. * Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman *
Fascinating book. * John Carey, Sunday Times *
No one else could have broached such an ambitious subject. * Jonathan Sumption, Spectator *
A great historian...remarkable book. * Jonathan Sumption, Spectator *
A compellingly readable book, richly researched, fascinatingly detailed, delightfully written. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
Thomas has formidable organisational ability, and an unerring eye for detail. Almost every page offers something to intrigue, amuse, provoke. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
'The Ends of Life' is a compellingly readable book, richly researched, fascinatingly detailed, delightfully written. * Eamon Duffy, London Review of Books *
This is...a masterly series of impressions designed to provoke the reader to further thought and study. * Jonathan Barry, History Today *
It takes phenomenal learning and scholarly chutzpah to pull off a book like this. * Jonathan Wright The Independent *
Pure delight. * John Morrill, BBC History Magazine *
Let's thanks Keith Thomas for writing such a brave and sensitive book. * Jonathan Wright, The Independent *
Any new book by Sir Keith Thomas is a major event. * John Morrill, BBC History Magazine *
It's full of wonderful sentences and phrases. * David Sexton, Evening Standard. *
The Ends of Life is captivating. * David Sexton, Evening Standard *
The sheer wealth and diversity of material in 'The Ends of Life' makes it a fascinating read. * Lisa Jardine, Financial Times *
It is hard indeed to imagine a better introduction to the early modern world. It will be immediately and universally recognized as indispensable, not just for historians, but for anyone with an interest in the past.' * David Wootton, Times Literary Supplement *
Thomas's connecting prose is graceful and sometimes crisply epigrammatic, 'The Ends of Life' is a pleasure to read. * Michael Dirda, Washington Post *
'The Ends of Life'...scatters bright insights into the habits of thought of early modern England. * Graham Parry, The Guardian *
Endlessly fascinating...elegant, incisive and entertaining book. * Tim Blanning, Sunday Telegraph *
The writing is lucid and elegant, peppered with dry wit and overseen by an infallible eye for anecdotes. * Peter Marshall, Literary Review *
Where Thomas excels, as ever, is in his eye for luminous supporting detail. * D. J. Taylor, The Independent *
A teeming historical survey. * Sunday Times *
A triumphal demonstration that one of our leading historians is still at the height of his powers. * Peter Marshall, Literary Review *
Exhilaratingly illuminating. * Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman *
Fascinating book. * John Carey, Sunday Times *
Sir Keith Thomas is a Fellow of All Souls College and former President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He is the author of several highly acclaimed books on early modern England, including Religion and the Decline of Magic, which won the Wolfson Literary Award for History in 1972. A former trustee of the National Gallery and the British Museum, he holds honorary doctorates from eleven universities. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and was President of the British Academy between 1993 and 1997.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780199247233 |
| ISBN 10 | 0199247234 |
| Title | The Ends of Life |
| Author | Keith Thomas |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2009-02-12 |
| Number of pages | 428 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |