'Those of us who love English history and culture often think first of the monarchy and then of the grand potentates of the aristocracy. Adam Nicolson's deep research into the gentry class - their rise from yeomanry and their inevitable(?) fall back into obscurity - makes the case that when we think of "England" more often than not the picture we have in mind is of the gentry and the homes they built and managed. The subjects of this book are referred to as "the bedrock," "the middle zone of English society," "a lesson in survival," "the heart of Englishness." And, a good case is made for their importance over time.

The author's use of deep research into the history and archives of a dozen specific families over seven centuries both demonstrates his thesis of the importance of the gentry "class" and personalizes a vast sweep of English history. And, it's just plain fun to read!

Nicholson's literary cred descends from his famous grandparents but is built on his own ability to tell a good story, to build a fun read. I first met him through "Sissinghurst: an Unfinished History" (the story of the travails of his own gentry family working / struggling with the National Trust to protect their personal view of their family's long time home). "Gentry" broadens the thesis of "Sissinghurst" and makes an important contribution to English history.'