Product Description

Stimulating, vivid and provocative, Christopher Hill's graphic depiction of this turbulent era examines ordinary English men and women as well as kings and queens.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #167944 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
'This is a book we have all been waiting for - a history of the political and religious conflicts of the seventeenth century that is rooted in reality; and it will be a long, long time before this brilliantly lucid and forcefully argued book is bettered.' - Spectator

Review
'This is a book we have all been waiting for ... it will be a long, long time before this brilliantly lucid and forcefully argued book is bettered.' - The Spectator

Synopsis
First published in 1961, this graphic depiction of a turbulent era in English history examines ordinary men and women as well as kings and queens. The author argues that the Civil War was driven by the conflict between the old feudal lites and the growing merchant classes. Society and the State are dissected alongside other aspects such as Protestantism and the rise of capitalism and the questioning of hitherto unassailable authorities such as the church and the law.

Customer Reviews

Truly excellent synthesis
Despite the large topic and relatively short length Christopher Hill's books is a magesterial overview of the period. He starts with a quote about the importance of 'things happening' over 'events' and he puts this philosophy to full use in the book; he pulls out key strands of the period and incisively examins them, while sticking to a readable and chronological outline. Truly excellent.