Rebellion: The History of England from James I to the Glorious Revolution (The History of England, #3)

Peter Ackroyd has been praised as one of the greatest living chroniclers of Britain and its people. In Rebellion, he continues his dazzling account of the history of England, beginning with the progress south of the Scottish king, James VI, who on the death of Elizabeth I became the first Stuart king of England, and ending with the deposition and flight into exile of his grandson, James II. The Stuart monarchy brought together the two nations of England and Scotland into one realm, albeit a realm still marked by political divisions that echo to this day. More importantly, perhaps, the Stuart era was marked by the cruel depredations of civil war, and the killing of a king. Shrewd and opinionated, James I was eloquent on matters as diverse as theology, witchcraft, and the abuses of tobacco, but his attitude to the English parliament sowed the seeds of the division that would split the country during the reign of his hapless heir, Charles I. Ackroyd offers a brilliant, warts-and-all portrayal of Charles's nemesis, Oliver Cromwell, Parliament's great military leader and England's only dictator, who began his career as a political liberator but ended it as much of a despot as "that man of blood," the king he executed. England's turbulent seventeenth century is vividly laid out before us, but so too is the cultural and social life of the period, notable for its extraordinarily rich literature, including Shakespeare's late masterpieces, Jacobean tragedy, the poetry of John Donne and Milton and Thomas Hobbes's great philosophical treatise, Leviathan . In addition to its account of England's royalty, Rebellion also gives us a very real sense of the lives of ordinary English men and women, lived out against a backdrop of constant disruption and uncertainty.

Peter Ackroyd has been praised as one of the greatest living chroniclers of Britain and its people. In Rebellion, he continues his dazzling account of the history of England, beginning with the progress south of the Scottish king, James VI, who on the death of Elizabeth I became the first Stuart king of England, and ending with the deposition and flight into exile of his grandson, James II.

The Stuart monarchy brought together the two nations of England and Scotland into one realm, albeit a realm still marked by political divisions that echo to this day. More importantly, perhaps, the Stuart era was marked by the cruel depredations of civil war, and the killing of a king. Shrewd and opinionated, James I was eloquent on matters as diverse as theology, witchcraft, and the abuses of tobacco, but his attitude to the English parliament sowed the seeds of the division that would split the country during the reign of his hapless heir, Charles I. Ackroyd offers a brilliant, warts-and-all portrayal of Charles's nemesis, Oliver Cromwell, Parliament's great military leader and England's only dictator, who began his career as a political liberator but ended it as much of a despot as "that man of blood," the king he executed.

England's turbulent seventeenth century is vividly laid out before us, but so too is the cultural and social life of the period, notable for its extraordinarily rich literature, including Shakespeare's late masterpieces, Jacobean tragedy, the poetry of John Donne and Milton and Thomas Hobbes's great philosophical treatise, Leviathan. In addition to its account of England's royalty, Rebellion also gives us a very real sense of the lives of ordinary English men and women, lived out against a backdrop of constant disruption and uncertainty.

Examines The Stuart Dynasty During A Turbulent Seventeenth Century Marked By Civil War, The Execution Of Charles I, The Rule Of Oliver Cromwell, And The Deposition And Exile Of James Ii. A New Solomon -- The Plot -- The Beacon -- The God Of Money -- The Angel -- The Vapours -- What News? -- A Bohemian Tragedy -- The Spanish Travellers -- An Interlude -- Vivat Rex -- A Fall From Grace -- Take That Slime Away -- I Am The Man -- The Crack Of Doom -- The Shrimp -- Sudden Flashings -- Venture All -- A Great And Dangerous Treason -- Madness And Fury -- A World Of Change -- Worse And Worse News -- A World Of Mischief -- Neither Hot Nor Cold -- The Gates Of Hell -- The Women Of War -- The Face Of God -- The Mansion Of Liberty -- A Game To Play -- To Kill A King -- This House To Be Let -- Fear And Trembling -- Healing And Settling -- Is It Possible? -- The Young Gentleman -- Oh Prodigious Change -- On The Road -- To Rise And Piss -- And Not Dead Yet? -- The True Force -- Hot News -- New Infirmities -- Or At The Cock? -- Noise Rhymes To Noise -- The Protestant Wind. Peter Ackroyd. First Published In Great Britain By Macmillan As A Set, Complete In 6 Volumes, Under The Common Title: The History Of England; Rebellion Is Volume 3 In That Series. First Published In Great Britain Under The Title Civil War By Macmillan.--title Page Verso Includes Bibliographical References (pages 471-479) And Index. The Stuart monarchy brought England and Scotland into one realm, albeit one still marked by political divisions that echo to this day. More importantly, perhaps, the Stuart era was marked by the cruelty of civil war, and the killing of a king. Shrewd and opinionated, James I's attitude toward the English parliament sowed the seeds of division that would split the country during the reign of his hapless heir, Charles I. Charles's nemesis, Oliver Cromwell, Parliament's great military leader and England's only dictator, began his career as a political liberator but ended it as much of a despot as the king he executed. In Peter Ackroyd's Rebellion, England's turbulent seventeenth century is vividly laid out before us, but so too is the cultural and social life of the period, notable for its literature, including Shakespeare's late masterpieces; Jacobean tragedy; the poetry of John Donne and John Milton; and Thomas Hobbes's great philosophical treatise, Leviathan. Ackroyd also gives us a very real sense of the lives of ordinary English men and women, lived out against a backdrop of constant disruption and uncertainty. -- Back cover The Stuart Monarchy Brought England And Scotland Into One Realm, Albeit One Still Marked By Political Divisions That Echo To This Day. More Importantly, Perhaps, The Stuart Era Was Marked By The Cruelty Of Civil War, And The Killing Of A King. Shrewd And Opinionated, James I's Attitude Toward The English Parliament Sowed The Seeds Of The Division That Would Split The Country During The Reign Of His Hapless Heir, Charles I. Charles's Nemesis, Oliver Cromwell, Parliament's Great Military Leader And England's Only Dictator, Began His Career As A Political Liberator But Ended It As Much Of A Despot As The King He Executed. In Peter Ackroyd's Rebellion, England's Turbulent Seventeenth Century Is Vividly Laid Out Before Us, But So Too Is The Cultural And Social Life Of The Period, Notable For Its Literature, Including Shakespeare's Late Masterpieces; Jacobean Tragedy; The Poetry Of John Donne And John Milton; And Thomas Hobbes's Great Philosophical Treatise, Leviathan. Ackroyd Also Gives Us A Very Real Sense Of The Lives Of Ordinary English Men And Women, Lived Out Against A Backdrop Of Constant Disruption And Uncertainty.