Bodies Complexioned: Human Variation and Racism in Early Modern English Culture, C. 1600-1750Paperback, 12 July 2022

Skin-tones mattered in early modern England. Indexing health, social status, religious affiliation and national allegiance, they helped explain (away) poverty, colonialism, war and slavery. Drawing physical distinctions as a means to power has a complex history - one belying racism's assumption that such distinctions are natural or timeless.