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"Political economy comes of age in this book. The Fountain of Privilege practices what has so far merely been advocated, the melding of history, economics, and political science. . . . A masterpiece of social science."--Donald N. McCloskey, author of Second Thoughts

"Reveals how economic forces influenced the institutional evolution of Old Regime France and England. The work represents an effort to create a contemporary humanism by breaking down the specialist's boundaries and reconstituting the fundamental unity of social analysis. The practice of applying theoretical insights from the social sciences to empirical research in history has a long pedigree. . . . Mr. Root's work continues the tradition of Bloch, Lefebvre, Labrousse, and Braudel."--Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, author of Montaillou: The Promised Land of Error
"A splendid book, full of new insights, brilliant ideas, and thoughtful analysis. It is a major contribution both to Ancien Régime and pre-Revolutionary history. . . . A masterful study."--François Crouzet, author of Britain Ascendant: Studies in British and Franco-British Economic History