The Ends of Life Roads to Fulfillment in Early Modern England

Stretching from the beginning of the Reformation to the heyday of the Enlightenment, here is a masterful exploration of the ways in which people sought to lead fulfilling lives, illuminating the central values of this key period, while casting incidental light on some of the perennial problems of human existence. Keith Thomas, one of the foremost historians of our time, sheds light on the origins of the modern ideal of human fulfillment and explores the many obstacles to its realization, looking at work, wealth, possessions friendship, family, and sociability. The book looks at the cult of military prowess, the pursuit of honor and reputation, the nature of religious belief, and the desire to be posthumously remembered. The Ends of Life offers a fresh approach to the history of early modern England, providing modern readers with much food for thought on the problem of how we should live and what goals in life we should pursue.

Sir Keith Thomas is a Fellow of All Souls College and former President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He is the author of several highly acclaimed books on early modern England, including Religion and the Decline of Magic, which won the Wolfson Literary Award for History in 1972. A former trustee of the National Gallery and the British Museum, he holds honorary doctorates from eleven universities. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and was President of the British Academy between 1993 and 1997.