Gender studies have become an area of great interest in many disciplines. Here, Nye examines the evolving definitions of masculinity in France since the eighteenth century. Specifically, Nye looks at how the aristocratic ethos of male honor, rooted in a society of landlords, hunters, and warriors, adapted to a society motivated by utilitarian values, town life, and rational law. He focuses on the cultural practices and mentality of middle and upper class males and the appeal of their codes to men throughout French society.