Other reviewers have already done a good job explaining what Brewer's book is all about. I agree with them that it is an excellent example of historical analysis. I happened to read it after reading about the Glorious Revolution in 1688: The First Modern Revolution by Steven Pincus. So, it was interesting to see the developments that occurred in England in the following century. I think Pincus would argue that the developments which Brewer describes were made possible by the Glorious Revolution and were the desired result of its winners.

I would also recommend this book to students of American history. After all, the growth in power and wealth of England during the preceding century had enormous impact on the American colonies and the policies of the British government toward them. It is unfortunate that the view of most Americans of their history starts with the conflicts over taxes between Parliament and the colonies that began in the 1760s; a fuller understanding of American history is obtained by also studying the preceding 1-2 centuries of British history.

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