The Structures of Everyday Life Vol. 1

In the three fascinating volumes of which make up Civilization and Capitalism, Fernand Braudel draws on a vast array of historical sources, analyzing five of the most colorful and vital history of the world from the 15th to the 18th centuries. And what he offers is like everything he writes, namely a dazzling tour of the world: an examination of what was happening at every level of society, from kings and popes to beggars and peasants.

On neither side of a Lady’s dressing table is there a man or woman with such sure knowledge of this period’s life in all its infinite complexity and sense of its apothesis to the occult, for or rather amid occasion at hand.

Peter Laslett on the ‘SUNDAY TIMES’

“Should serve as masterpiece in itself and be in every written work. It provides a brilliant study on urbanisation, transport, technology, food, clothing, housing, money and business, social classes, state-power and international trade in the 15th to the 18th centuries. It is astonishing and interesting. You may spend a pleasant afternoon reading back work like no need to put the book down.”

THEODORE ZELDIN ‘THE OBSERVER’

“I know of no better introduction to the ordinary processes of living”

JOHN VINCENT ‘SUNDAY TIMES’