"Grassby, author of important articles and a recent biography of Sir Dudley North, has produced a masterwork. He has read in astonishing breadth (from sources that require 175 pages to list) and reconstructs 17th-century life in all its detail....the book immediately becomes the standard source for specialist and student alike....[Grassby's] research on this topic may never be equaled....Essential for graduate libraries and those serving upper-division undergraduates." Choice

• Introduction: Questions and sources; 1. The status of business; 2. Obstacles to entry; 3. Funding and risk; 4. Necessity and choice; 5. The pattern of recruitment; 6. Skills and motivation; 7. Politics and government; 8. The measure of success; 9. Religion and ethics; 10. Family structure; 11. Consumption and leisure; 12. A symbiotic culture; Conclusion. Private enterprise in a pre-industrial economy.

"Grassby, author of important articles and a recent biography of Sir Dudley North, has produced a masterwork. He has read in astonishing breadth (from sources that require 175 pages to list) and reconstructs 17th-century life in all its detail....the book immediately becomes the standard source for specialist and student alike....[Grassby's] research on this topic may never be equaled....Essential for graduate libraries and those serving upper-division undergraduates." Choice

• Introduction: Questions and sources; 1. The status of business; 2. Obstacles to entry; 3. Funding and risk; 4. Necessity and choice; 5. The pattern of recruitment; 6. Skills and motivation; 7. Politics and government; 8. The measure of success; 9. Religion and ethics; 10. Family structure; 11. Consumption and leisure; 12. A symbiotic culture; Conclusion. Private enterprise in a pre-industrial economy.

"Grassby, author of important articles and a recent biography of Sir Dudley North, has produced a masterwork. He has read in astonishing breadth (from sources that require 175 pages to list) and reconstructs 17th-century life in all its detail....the book immediately becomes the standard source for specialist and student alike....[Grassby's] research on this topic may never be equaled....Essential for graduate libraries and those serving upper-division undergraduates." Choice

• Introduction: Questions and sources; 1. The status of business; 2. Obstacles to entry; 3. Funding and risk; 4. Necessity and choice; 5. The pattern of recruitment; 6. Skills and motivation; 7. Politics and government; 8. The measure of success; 9. Religion and ethics; 10. Family structure; 11. Consumption and leisure; 12. A symbiotic culture; Conclusion. Private enterprise in a pre-industrial economy.