The Rise of the Class Struggle

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In 17th century England, religion was a very strong force in people's lives. How much of that was sincere belief? And how much was that simply a kind of arbitrary marker for different interest groups struggling for power fixed upon? I think as we live in such a secular age, and more so than in the states, religious conviction is very much a minority pursuit. To reimagine ourselves or to imagine the world of 17th century,. England, where religion is such a strong force, it involves a kind of mental leap.

Anna Keay is a historian who specializes in the cultural heritage of Great Britain. As the director of the Landmark Trust, she has overseen the restoration of numerous historical buildings and monuments, while also serving as a prolific author and commentator on the country's architectural and artistic traditions. Her book, The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown, was one of Tyler’s top picks for 2022.

Tyler sat down with Anna to discuss the most plausible scenario where England could’ve remained a republic in the 17th century, what Robert Boyle learned from Sir William Petty, why some monarchs build palaces and others don’t, how renting from the Landmark Trust compares to Airbnb, how her job changes her views on wealth taxes, why neighborhood architecture has declined, how she’d handle the UK’s housing shortage, why giving back the Koh-i-Noor would cause more problems than it solves, why British houses have so little storage, the hardest part about living in an 800-year-old house, her favorite John Fowles book, why we should do more to preserve the Scottish Enlightenment, and more.

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Recorded February 23rd, 2023

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