Roeck (U. of Zurich) offers an overview of bourgeois culture and aspects of everyday life in Germany from the Renaissance through the 18th century, while introducing readers to fundamental research problems. The topics range from life styles, clothing and eating habits to consciousness of time and rites of passage. Roeck pays special attention to the role of female and male citizens in music, literature and fine arts. The text, which is aimed primarily at history and art history students, includes excerpts from many important primary sources, including Albrecht D(:u)er's letters, Michel de Montaigne's' Diary of a Journey to Spas, John Caspar Riesbeck's Letters of a Travelling Frenchman, Kant's What is Enlightenment?, and Goethe's Poetry and Truth. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)