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Blair Worden

The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660 Paperback – May 4, 2010

by Blair Worden (Author)

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One of the most renowned historians of the English Civil War has written a crisp and lucid narrative of the complicated events of 1640 to 1660—not just the war between King and Parliament of 1642-46 but the second civil war, the execution of King Charles I, the rule of Cromwell, and finally the restoration of the monarchy. Blair Worden gets behind the preoccupations of later generations and explains what contemporaries on both sides thought they were fighting for and against.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

An exemplary piece of popular history... opening up perhaps the most important national story to the nation, passionately retold yet unadorned ... If you want to be informed about that unfortunate period of English history, Blair Worden's crisp 160-pager may well be the best place to start

―Nicholas Bagnal, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

As an introduction to the English civil wars, Worden's book is peerless. Brief, though it is, it is a work of exceptionally large achievement

―THE SPECTATOR

It is hard to imagine a better introduction to the subject

―HISTORY TODAY

Straightforward, stimulating and a joy to read ... It makes you want to know more

―LITERARY REVIEW

Worden is a spellbinding writer ... he skewers the myriad shifting issues with precision, his every sentence commanding respect for his measured judgment and the marvellous suppleness of his language

―DAILY EXPRESS

About the Author

Blair Worden has taught at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Sussex and Chicago. He was Visiting Professor of Modern History at Oxford 2003-06 and is now Research Professor of History at Royal Holloway College London. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and has written widely on the political, intellectual and religious history of early modern England. He lives in Oxfordshire.

Product details

Publisher : Phoenix; 12853rd edition (May 4, 2010)
Language: : English
Paperback : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 0753826917
ISBN-13 : 978-0753826911
Item Weight : 6.6 ounces
Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #239,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,491 in Great Britain History (Books)
- #5,899 in Military History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
141 ratings

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BrianWild7

Tory blindness

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020

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The history of the British Civil Wars is weighed down by the preponderance of English Tories among its authors. Blair Worden 's undoubted scholarly mastery of basic factual detail is marred by his stubborn judgement that, for England at least, the Cromwellian interlude was a giant waste of time, effort and blood with little significance for what has followed. The 17th century in England witnessed the final collapse of the institutions of feudalism and the first building of the foundation of the modern state. Worden, steeped in the work and biographies of literary figures of the period, and drenched in Tory prejudice, is a poor guide to the state-building activity that he only grudgingly acknowledges. Charles I, who managed the singular feat of provoking a war in which he was responsible for financing the armies of both sides, is treated as facing dutifully great challenges that would overwhelm any man, when in fact his greatest challenge was his own epic incompetence. The notion that Cromwell represented and embodied an impulse in the English polity to make self-governance thru deliberative processes work is scorned, rather than considered. The possibility that absolute monarchy, entailing the intrigues of court politics and dynastic considerations, could be reconciled with the modern government of a nation-state was given a long trial with the Stuarts and ultimately the clear answer was, no. Cromwell proved to be good at the job, a fact duly noted.

8 people found this helpful

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happybuyer

A clear, readable introduction to the English Civil Wars ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2018

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A clear, readable introduction to the English Civil Wars, this text is ideal for the general reader.unfamiliar with 17th century English history. The narrative is detailed enough to make it informative, yet concise enough to make the discussion move briskly. An expert and authoratitive account.

9 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Superb clear explanation & concise.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2019

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Well written. Broad focus, rather than just on Cromwell & Charles

Highly recommended as an introductory primer, esp useful for American readers less familiar with English history.

Particularly enjoyed the author integrating the historical events within larger intellectual contexts.

2 people found this helpful

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Glen V. Mcintyre

Uncivil Civil Wars

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2013

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Having majored in English history at the University of Oklahoma, many, many years ago, I am always interested in a good book on some part of English History. This is definitely a good book. It is concise but full of information. It has a really good section at the end recommending other books that go into more detail on this Civil War.
I am still a roundhead as they would have called me, and feel like Charles I, "that man of blood" as Oliver Cromwell called him, got everything he deserved when he got his neck chopped off.
This book makes a good explanation of why the Puritan forces in the end, failed to make a republic last in England.
This is definitely a good book to start with on understanding this unhappy time.

30 people found this helpful

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Green

A very good short history of a complex event

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020

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This book is a good introduction/overview of the English Civil War. It is by necessity a broad sketch—being under 200 pages long,but it whets one’s appetite to know more.

One person found this helpful

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H. N. T.

Great first book for anyone on the subject.

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2014

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Brief, and informative. Accessible even for those with very little background on the period. Naturally it won't satisfy those who want greater depth, but for an introduction to the subject it seems a wonderful place to start.

9 people found this helpful

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Greg E.

Great introductory book into a complicated topic

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2013

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Well written and well told. Short and to the point. A great launching pad into the murky world of the English Civil War scholarships. Excellent survey course material.

10 people found this helpful

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Ilinois Reader

A Great Overview of the English Civil Wars

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014

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Between 1640 and 1660 the British Isles erupted in terrible armed conflict. The conflicts-in many ways different wars in different places for different reasons-are ably documented in this overview.

Blair Worden writes about the conflict from a higher view. He describes the social conditions that led to the war in such a way that one understands what the driving religious concerns were, and what things were such as the "Rump" parliament and how they came about.

This book is a great book if one is starting out on studying the English Civil Wars.

7 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

trevor dawson

Brilliant introduction to the subject

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2019

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If there is one signal feature of the period 1640-1660 it is the complexity of those forces which brought the country to war with itself. Blair Worden's authoritative survey of the key issues,events and personalities is an excellent introduction to the subject. The narrative that he presents is both coherent and accessible without plunging into befuddling minutiae at any point. An inspirational read for anyone wishing to pursue a deeper knowledge of the conflict.

4 people found this helpful

Eve

Good book - easier read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2016

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This is a good book about the English Civil War. I'm half way through and it reads like a story.
He encapsulates everything about the English Civil war and it's not taking me long to read at all.
I would recommend this book to others, as I've read others and they're quite dull and heavy to read.

10 people found this helpful

Saturnicus

A valuable work for a student of this period...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2014

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Concise and to the point, this is an erudite work which gives a brief overview of the twenty period from 1640-1660. If you want to read about battles, then this book is not for you, but it is a valuable step to those who wish to broaden their knowledge of this traumatic period.
It is short and inexpensive. A really good buy.

7 people found this helpful

Tony Warner

A helpful introduction

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2016

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This deals with 20 years of civil war, religious change and constitutional upheaval in 160 pages. If you are new to the period it is a good introduction. If you want detail and in-depth analysis, then look elsewhere.

4 people found this helpful

Melissa

Great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

Excellent informative book. Must for students and anyone interested in this period.

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