《新闻直播间》 20170618 1700

English in Modern Times describes the development of the English language from 1700 until 1945, and argues that it is in the course of this later modern English period that the characteristics of "modern" English evolved. This is the first undergraduate text to cover the whole of this important period, which has been called the "Cinderella" of English historical linguistics because of its lack of representation of scholarly literature.

“Nel Seicento l’Europa si costituisce in un sistema di Stati nazionali che sono alla ricerca del proprio equilibrio politico ed economico. Il secolo dell’assolutismo è anche quello che vede il declino delle grandi famiglie feudali ed il sorgere della borghesia commerciale e industriale; la città capitale diventa la struttura di questa nuova società. … L’incredibile diffusione dell’immagine che si fa in questo secolo, dimostra che si è voluto riconoscere che la logica non è affatto il movente determinante delle azioni umane.

This is the first comprehensive examination of the Russian ruling elite and its political institutions during an important period of state building, from the emergence of Russia on the stage of world politics around 1700 to the consolidation of its position after the victory over Napoleon. Instead of focusing on the great rulers of the period–Peter, Catherine, and Alexander–the work examines the nobility which alone could make their power effective. LeDonne not only gives a full chronological account of the development of bureaucratic, military, economic, and political institutions in Russia during this period, but also skillfully analyzes the ways in which local agencies and the ruling class exercised control and shared power with the absolute monarchs.