Theories of charity and poor relief -- Hospitals and the state -- The reform of the Paris Hotel Dieu -- The reform of poor relief in Paris -- Social welfare in a developing provincial capital: Montpellier -- Reforming social welfare in a divided town, Nîmes
Summary
This book explores poor relief and charitable health care in French cities during the seventeenth century, a period that witnessed much reform and change in the way these services were administered. By reintegrating the social aspirations of urban elites into the history of French poor relief, it shows how they initiated reform in towns and cities when it suited them, but where such reforms were not perceived as needed, or not affordable, they ignored central government edicts to build new institutions. In other words, reforms of poor relief and health welfare were local and shaped by local ex
