The Trophies of Time

Focusing on the curiosity surrounding England's origins in the seventeenth century, the book explores the scholarly efforts to understand prehistoric Britain, Roman Britain, and Saxon England through antiquarian studies. It highlights how these inquiries influenced contemporary debates on church and state, while shaping national identity. The achievements of prominent figures like Camden, Cotton, Selden, and others are assessed, providing engaging portraits of both well-known and lesser-known scholars who contributed to this intellectual movement.