The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England

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A sweeping, groundbreaking epic that combines military with social history, to illuminate the ways in which Great Britain and its people were permanently transformed by the Second World War. The execution of Charles is, rightly, at the dead centre of The Blazing World, Healey’s lively, compelling and combative study of the most dramatic and consequential century in English history. It was an act with lasting impact that not even the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 could undo. Ironically, the terrible act of 1649 would ultimately secure the institution of monarchy, while circumscribing its power. The European absolutism sought by the Stuarts would not take root in England, which became, as Healey emphasises, a place where politics was “no longer about monarchs”. Many other books I have read concentrate on only one of these events/periods – or often even only certain aspects/sub-periods of them – so where this book really works is in bring the whole period into one cohesive account. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. What happens at the end of my trial? The most interesting parts to me were the glimpses of the impact on every day people, and I do wish that we had learnt a bit more about what the government of the day was doing outside of the various plots to get either Protestants or Catholics in power - e.g how was healthcare provided, how was literacy going? Etc… but maybe that would have made it a ridiculously long book.

Charles was defeated in his wars by the New Model Army, full of religious zeal, though its grandees, including its most able commander, Oliver Cromwell, remained in favour of monarchy almost to the end. In 1647, the year of the extraordinary Putney Debates – skilfully documented here by Healey – at which army agitators comprehended modern democracy, a bovine Charles failed to seize his great opportunity. He could have accepted General Henry Ireton’s generous proposed settlement, the Heads of Proposals, and “marched into London, garlanded by a grateful New Model Army”, to prosper under a balanced constitution. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our I am also glad to see more and more historians drawing attention to what a nasty, repressive, cruel regime the Restoration was. Most of what we were taught in school was essentially Royalist propaganda.

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The 17th century was the most dramatic and consequential in British history, the period during which the modern world was formed, and Jonathan Healey is as assured a guide to its twists and turns, its tragedies and triumphs as one could wish for. The Blazing World is a triumph of scholarship and concision.” —Paul Lay, historian, author of Providence Lost It’s a cliché to say that history repeats itself, especially since it often doesn’t. Oxford professor Jonathan Healey makes it clear in The Blazing World that the figures discussed within — Oliver Cromwell, William Laud, and the Stuart monarchs from James I to Charles II, among a cast of many more — could only have existed during their unique time. And yet, “The echoes of seventeenth-century England are still with us,” he writes, “in our society, in the built environment and in the very landscape.” This book details many such changes in fortunes and makes clear that most modern aristocrats wouldn’t have managed to hang on to their titles over the last few centuries without the peace and stability of democracy. An irony if ever there was one. I like narrative history and I like concrete examples to illustrate and amplify the broad story being told. This excellent history of seventeenth century England reads easily, with this from the introduction:

Though “an absolutist by nature”, James was canny enough to realise the limits of ambition in his wealthy new kingdom. His son, Charles – the spare who became the heir following the death of his glamorous brother Henry in 1612 – was less flexible. Healey is scathing in his judgment (and, refreshingly, never afraid to judge) about this “man of blood” who in the 1640s led his country into two needless civil wars, describing him as a “stuffy authoritarian… never ruthless enough to be a successful tyrant”, though he concedes, as did Rubens, that the king had a good eye for a painting. Lucy Hughes-Hallett The radicals of 17th-century England began to think the unthinkable Jonathan Healey describes how Diggers, Levellers and other revolutionary sects started proposing universal male suffrage, legal aid and even a national health service Healey’s enthusiasm and love for the period is clear. Thanks to the explosion of published material of the time, there is a wealth of surviving pamphlets, manuscripts, diaries and documents forming a treasure trove of material for scholars such as Healey to delve into. This was the first century to provide such riches for it’s future historians.I get a sense that Jonathan Healey thinks that the royals can be thankful that Oliver Cromwell made such a hash of running Britain as a republic following victory in the Civil War, thereby allowing for the return of monarchy. An admirably even-handed account. . . . For those new to the subject, Healey’s retelling is exemplary.” —Jerry Brotton, Financial Times There is one chapter (17) which felt out of place, perhaps because I have already read detailed histories of this period, 1665 and 1666, discussing the Dutch naval wars, the Plague and the Great Fire of London. But the story of this century is less well known than it should be. Myths have grown around key figures. People may know about the Gunpowder Plot and the Great Fire of London, but the Civil War is a half-remembered mystery to many. And yet the seventeenth century has never seemed more relevant. The British constitution is once again being bent and contorted, and there is a clash of ideologies reminiscent of when Roundhead fought Cavalier.

An admirably even-handed account . . . For those new to the subject, Healey's retelling is exemplary The book states that between the mid-sixteenth century and the second quarter of the seventeenth century, the yeomen saw their wealth rise fourteenfold, which I found remarkable. ↩︎

By Cate Haste

I found this book fascinating and at times quite moving. It was a great insight into how society shaped democracy as we know it today. It documents the struggles for democracy and the many attempted forms of this. And makes very clear that absolute power corrupts absolutely, whether monarchy or republic. It sets out the twists and turns of history and the impact they made.

You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Any student of US History would be well served by understanding the British Civil War period. The founders of the US and framers of the constitution and bill of rights were *very* familiar with those decades and it absolutely shaped the US government design and balances of power. The idea that the founders would have had *any* intention of allowing - for example - the vice president of the US to decide which electors were valid, is as absurd as it comes. An entertaining and easy to read overview of seventeenth century England, taking in civil war, plague, fire, and revolution. Each chapter ends with a very well thought out summary. His analysis of how much blame Charles I bears for the disastrous end of his reign is masterful. (The answer is, "allot") A] lively, compelling and combative study of the most dramatic and consequential century in English history . . . The Blazing World offers a thrilling panorama of the period, from perspectives high and low, told with a winning combination of impish wit, sound judgment, and serious scholarship . . . It will delight those new to its extraordinary age, and fire up its grizzled veteransAnyone who is slightly aware of English history will know that the seventeenth century is the century of English revolution, civil war and the death of the English monarch accused of treason. The author compares this period of devastating upheaval to where England is now: facing the birth of a new world.