{"product_id":"slavery-family-and-gentry-capitalism-in-the-british-atlantic","title":"Slavery, Family, and Gentry Capitalism in the British Atlantic","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Slavery, Family, and Gentry Capitalism in the British Atlantic, the bottom line is clear: this is a focused, archival-driven study for readers who want to understand how a provincial British family built an Atlantic business empire. Dr S. D. Smith examines the Lascelles from the mid-1600s to the 1830s, showing how they combined plantation ownership, transatlantic trade and risk-taking to rise from merchants to aristocracy. The book is best suited to scholars and serious general readers who want a detailed case study rather than a broad survey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase study focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Lascelles family is followed closely, giving readers a concrete narrative of how one Yorkshire dynasty built a transatlantic commercial and cultural network.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAtlantic perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book links the West Indies to North America, Africa and Europe, helping readers see the interconnected geography of gentry capitalism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBusiness innovation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smith highlights the Lascelles' capacity for commercial innovation and risk-taking, explaining how they navigated obstacles to create wealth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong chronological span:\u003c\/strong\u003e Covering c.1648 to 1834, the study traces multigenerational change in family strategy, status and economic practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSocial mobility theme:\u003c\/strong\u003e The narrative traces the rise from merchant status to aristocratic pre-eminence, illuminating class and status dynamics in British economic history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is ideal for historians of economic and Atlantic history, postgraduate students, and readers interested in the mechanics of empire, plantation economies and elite social mobility. Its detailed family archive work and commercial focus make it a strong choice for researchers tracing how private actors shaped imperial trade networks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad, synthetic overview of Atlantic slavery across all actors or a concise textbook introduction might look elsewhere; this volume is best appreciated by those willing to engage with a single-family case and the specific archival evidence that supports it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThorough archival case study that illuminates how gentry capitalists operated across the Atlantic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear explanation of the Lascelles' commercial innovations and risk strategies, useful for business history research.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEffective linkage of regional British society to imperial commerce, showing social mobility from merchant to aristocracy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe narrow focus on a single family means readers seeking wide comparative breadth will need supplementary works.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlavery, Family, and Gentry Capitalism in the British Atlantic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCambridge Studies in Economic History - Second Series\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eS. D. Smith\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChronological scope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ec.1648 to 1834\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographical focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBritish Atlantic: West Indies, North America, Africa, Europe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain case study\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Lascelles family, Yorkshire plantation owners and merchants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmith's study is a well-researched, narrowly focused contribution that rewards readers interested in the mechanics of gentry capitalism and the rise of Atlantic merchant families. It offers considerable value for scholars and advanced students because of its archival depth and clear tracing of economic strategy, though general readers wanting broad synthesis should supplement it with wider surveys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus on a single family?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The Lascelles are the central case study used to explore wider themes of gentry capitalism and Atlantic commerce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat time period does the book cover?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe narrative runs roughly from the mid-seventeenth century through the 1830s, tracing multigenerational change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this suitable for undergraduate courses?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt can serve as a focused readings selection for courses on Atlantic history or economic history, but instructors may pair it with broader overviews for survey classes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"S. D. 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