The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century: The Golden Age
“In this first-rate narrative history of the Dutch Republic, Park (Utrecht Univ.) does a brilliant job of blending political, social economic, and cultural history into a clear and interesting synthesis.  Essential.  All collections in early modern Europe, early modern capitalism, or the history of national formation.”-Choice"Maarten Prak gives a remarkable overview of this indubitably fascinating period.  His book can serve both as an introduction for the less informed reader and a complementary study for the highly specialized scholar."-H-HRE, Violet Soen, Department of Early Modern History, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven"Prak's book is an excellent starting point for a study of the Dutch Golden Age. We should all be glad for its arrival.  Renaissance scholars, art historians, curious nonspecialists, teachers, and students alike can be thankful to Diane Webb and Cambridge for offering us Prak's enjoyable, inexpensive, and eminently practical 'overview with a particular slant.'"   --Renaissance Quarterly"[The book] is a wonderfully readable account of the history of the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century that one feels was intended for a non-specialist audience, even one that has a limited reading knowledge of Dutch."History of Intellectual Culture, Andrew Fix, Lafayette College