Author Description
Gender, Family, and Politics is the first full-length, gender-inclusive study of the Howard family, one of the pre-eminent families of early-modern Britain. Most of the existing scholarship on this aristocratic dynasty's political operation during the first half of the sixteenth-century centres on the male family members, and studies of the women of the early-modern period tends to focus on class or geographical location. Nicola Clark, however, places women and the question of kinship in centre-stage, arguing that this is necessary to understand the complexity of the early modern dynasty. A nuanced understanding of women's agency, dynastic identity, and politics allows us to more fully understand the political, social, religious, and cultural history of early-modern Britain.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates how the women of the Howard family functioned as central political actors within the aristocratic power structures of early-modern Britain between 1485 and 1558. Nicola Clark, a historian specializing in early modern gender and politics, utilizes primary source documentation and genealogical analysis to challenge male-centric historical narratives. She argues that the Howard dynasty's political survival and influence were fundamentally dependent on the agency, kinship networks, and strategic maneuvering of its female members.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the Howard family's political operations during the Tudor period.
- Examination of female agency in dynastic identity and social advancement.
- Case studies of specific Howard women and their roles in religious and cultural history.
Scope Limits
- The study is restricted to the Howard family and does not provide a comprehensive overview of all aristocratic women in the sixteenth century.
- The research focuses primarily on the political and dynastic spheres rather than the domestic or private lives of the subjects.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars of the Tudor period recognize this text as a significant correction to traditional dynastic histories that overlook female contributions. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the research and the clarity with which Clark integrates gender studies into established political history frameworks.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191087661
ISBN-13:
9780191087660
Biography
History
British History
Political History
Great Britain
Gender Studies
History - Modern
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