Zenith of European Monarchy and Its Elites

"The Zenith of European Monarchy and its Elites: The Politics of Culture, 1650-1750 focuses on a previously neglected key elite bonding strategy; explains how a common identity was forged by erecting cultural defences against outsiders; and demonstrates how the power and prestige of the ruling classes rose to unprecedented heights." "Essential reading for students and scholars of early modern European history, this fascinating new study shows how the period 1650-1750 gains a new coherence - as the pinnacle of Europe's monarchies and their elites."--Jacket.