The English Civil War: Papists, Gentlewoman, Soldiers, and Witchfinders in the Birth of Modern Britain Book

A popular history of the English Civil War--one of the great turning points in Western history--told through the harrowing experiences of the men and women who lived through it In this compelling history of the violent struggle between the monarchy and Parliament that tore apart seventeenth-century England, a rising star among British historians sheds new light on the people who fought and died during those tumultuous years. Like the Magna Carta or the American Revolution, the English Civil War resolved fundamental questions of sovereignty and political rights that are still the guiding principles of democracies today. However, the price of peace included the execution of a king, brutal persecution of Catholics and Royalists, and years of tyranny. Drawing on exciting new sources, including letters, memoirs, ballads, plays, illustrations, and even cookbooks, Diane Purkiss creates a rich and nuanced portrait of this turbulent era. Purkiss peoples her story with fascinating characters, from the obstinate King Charles I to his opponents such as the poet John Milton, from the cruel and egomaniacal Oliver Cromwell to the self-styled prophet Lady Eleanor Davies, to witchfinders, revolutionaries, and ordinary men and women. The English Civil War's dramatic consequences--the rejection of divine right monarchy in favor of parliamentary rule--continue to influence our lives. In this colorful narrative, Diane Purkiss brings vividly to life the history that changed the course of Western government.Read More