Sebastian Felten is a historian of science, finance, and bureaucracy at the University of Vienna. He was a fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Berlin and co-edited Histories of Bureaucratic Knowledge (2020).
'What counts as money? How is it used? These questions, newly relevant today, were of pressing concern in the past. In a book full of telling examples, Felten reveals how these questions were answered in practice rather than only in theory. He shows convincingly that successful money requires the willing participation of all its users.' Jan de Vries, University of California at Berkeley 'If you ever wondered what the lives of ordinary people can teach us about the functioning of society at large: read this book. Sebastian Felten's unique blend of big ideas and rich historical detail challenges us to rethink the use of money in early modern Europe.' Oscar Gelderblom, Antwerp University 'Felten utilizes a variety of disciplines and sources, providing an intriguing, accessible, and erudite analysis into the use of money. He illustrates exchange mechanisms that linked rural areas to urban centers and ultimately to global networks. Money in the Dutch Republic possesses a Braudelian feel for both local details and big structures.' Charles Parker, Saint Louis University