How the Country House Became English

(Hardback)

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Description

Country houses have come to be regarded as quintessentially English, not only in terms of their architectural style but because they appear to embody national values of continuity and insularity. The histories of country houses and England, however, have featured episodes of violence and disruption, so how did country houses come to represent one version of English history, when in reality they reflect its full range of contradictions and complexities This book explores the evolution of the country house, beginning with the violent impact of the Reformation and Civil War and showing how the political events of the eighteenth century, which culminated in the reaction against the French Revolution, led to country houses being recast as symbols of England's political stability.

Reviews

"An immensely readable and shrewd analysis of the myriad ways the English country house (even when it was not in England) mirrored the most potent politics of the day, all the way from the dissolution of the monasteries in the sixteenth century to the twentieth century. Barczewski's sure-footed grasp of a lengthy span of British history alongside her knowledge of architectural history makes this a compelling and a fascinating read."--Philippa Levine, University of Texas at Austin
"This exploration of the evolution of the quintessentially English country house shows how the political events of the 18th century led to country houses being recast as symbols of England's political stability." -- "The Bookseller (UK)"

Author Bio

Stephanie Barczewski is Professor of Modern British History and Carol K. Brown Scholar in the Humanities at Clemson University, South Carolina. Her books include Country Houses and the British Empire, 1700-1930 (2016).