The idea of a dialogue - sometimes harmonious, sometimes divisive - between the centre and periphery of the early modern European state stands at the heart of much of John Elliott's historical writing. It is the fulcrum around which his Imperial Spain revolves, and it lies at the heart of his analysis of the causes of the revolt of the Catalans against the centralising policies of the Madrid government. His writings on the Americas, such as The Old World and the New, likewise stressed the relationship between centre and periphery. This collection of essays by a group of Elliott's former students examines different aspects of this important theme and develops them. Taken together with the 'personal appreciation' of Elliott (Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford), it forms an important examination of the work of the greatest living historian of Spain as well as a major contribution to early modern European history.

"...achieves the primary goal of any Festschrift: it demonstrates the impact of the scholar being honored. It does so by elegantly reviewing Elliott's impact on imperial Spain and early modern studies in three parts that truly reflect the main themes of his work....Elliott forces all historians to look beyond the idiosyncratic, and this volume of essays in his honor can serve Latin Americanists by introducing them to some excellent work in Spanish history." H-Net Book Reviews

"...these are impressive studies. Each breaks new ground while at the same time provides due honor to John H. Elliot, the scholar who inspired this generation of scholars." Sixteenth Century Journal