In one of the truly great classics of twentieth-century political economy, R. H. Tawney addresses the question of how religion has affected social and economic practices. He does this by a relentless tracking of the influence of religious thought on capitalist economy and ideology since the Middle Ages. In so doing he sheds light on why Christianity continues to exert a unique role in the marketplace. In so doing, the book offers an incisive analysis of the historical background of present morals and mores in Western culture.

Religion and the Rise of Capitalism is even more...

First published in 1958, this volume by R. H. Tawney throws light on the background, conditions, and practices of England's economic life during the reign of James I. At the centre of the study is the figure of Lionel Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex, whose role as a merchant and then government minister - rapidly rising to the position of Lord Treasurer - here provides a unique framework within which to view the inter-reliance of commerce and politics in the first part of the seventeenth century. The study offers an illuminating account of the various successes and defeats of Cranfield's career,...

Originally published in 1950, this book contains the text of the seventh annual lecture of the National Book League, delivered the previous year by economic historian and social critic R. H. Tawney. Tawney concerns himself with no less a topic than the significance of great literature for the student of social history, and connects the social, historical and literary aspects of European civilization. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in social history and the role of literature in society.