| Title | : | Family, Culture and Society in the Diary of Constantijn Huygens Jr, Secretary to Stadholder-King William of Orange |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 9004250956 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9789004250956 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2013 |
Based on analysis of a diary kept by Constantijn Huygens Jr, the secretary to Stadholder-King William of Orange, this book proposes a new explanation for the invention of the modern, private diary in the 17th century. At the same time it sketches a panoramic view of Europe at the time of the Glorious Revolution and the Nine Years' War, recorded by an eyewitness. The book includes chapters on such subjects as the changing perception of time, book collecting, Huygens's role as connoisseur of art, belief in magic and witchcraft, and gossip and sexuality at the court of William and Mary. Finally this study shows how modern scientific ideas, developed by Huygens's brother Christiaan Huygens, changed our way of looking at the world around us.
Family, Culture and Society in the Diary of Constantijn Huygens Jr, Secretary to Stadholder-King William of Orange Reviews
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This was a most lovely read! I am not much of a history buff however Rudolf Dekker brings Constantijn Huygens Jr's diary to life. There is a sort of authenticity to Dekker's manner of sharing Huygens' work that brings the reader to the 17th century, so much that one can truly envision what it would have been like to know William of Orange.
I would highly recommend this most enjoyable read. In my case, I was coincidentally fortunate enough to have first watched the film, Tulip Fever, which aided my read as pleasant visual accompaniment. To be clear, the film is not related to the book, however the setting takes place during the might of the Dutch Republic.
