Making Men: The Formation Of Elite Male Identities In Englan The Formation of Elite Male Identities in England, c. 1660-1900

This edited collection of correspondence written by members of English landed gentry families provides insights into the formation, experience and practice of elite masculine identities. The source book examines continuities and changes in such processes within the male life cycle and across the early modern and modern periods.



The power and status of English male elites were not merely inherited at birth but developed through everyday interactions with family, peers and guardians. Much of these conversations were conducted through correspondence. In this fascinating Sourcebook, Mark Rothery and Henry French present a unique collection of letters which together trace this construction of gender and social identities. The Formation of Male Elite Identities in England, c.1660-1900: - Reveals the lifelong process of shaping and managing manliness via a range of social agents - Illustrates continuities and changes in the values associated with the landed gentry over the course of the period, and within the male lifecycle - Charts the process from school and university, through to experiences of travel, courtship, marriage and work - Provides a detailed Introduction to the letters, editorial guidance throughout, questions to stimulate discussion, and helpful suggestions for further reading