About the Book:This book examines the evolution of public assistance for the poor in England form the late medieval era to the Industrial Revolution. Placing poor relief in the context of the unique class relations of agrarian capitalism, it considers how and why relief in England in the early modern period was distinct, with comparisons made to Scotland, Ireland, France and Germany. Challenging and provocative, the author argues for a class-based reinterpretation of the origins of the welfare state.