Post: #1

RVFers are a well read group. I've read a couple of outstanding books suggested by others and it's one reason I joined this forum.

I've been studying my family history and I can trace it back to the point following the English Civil War of 1642–1651. It would be fascinating to learn more about this event and how it shaped politics and social relations on the British Isles.

Does anyone know of a good, concise book about this period?

Thanks!

Post: #2

Christopher Hill and someone Conrad Russell are popular and have written extensively on that period.

Also The King's War: 1641-1647 by C.V. Wedgwood is good.

Post: #3

No, but I can say: fuck Oliver Cromwell.

Post: #4

(09-21-2014 01:18 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  No, but I can say: fuck Oliver Cromwell.

Why? I understand that for the most part he was a reasonable ruler. His son (and heir) was useless though, apparently.

Post: #5

http://www.amazon.com/History-England-6-...0865970203

David Hume. Timeless brilliance.

Note thats just a link to the book but you can get it for free on Project Guttenberg

Post: #6

(09-21-2014 01:34 AM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 01:18 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  No, but I can say: fuck Oliver Cromwell.

Why? I understand that for the most part he was a reasonable ruler. His son (and heir) was useless though, apparently.

Ask any Irish person.

Most Irish people I know/meet have a very good understanding of history, more so than the average English person.

Cromwell was responsible for the slaughter of many Irish people. The hate for him is justified in my opinion.

Post: #7

(09-21-2014 06:32 AM)Trev Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 01:34 AM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 01:18 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  No, but I can say: fuck Oliver Cromwell.

Why? I understand that for the most part he was a reasonable ruler. His son (and heir) was useless though, apparently.

Ask any Irish person.

Most Irish people I know/meet have a very good understanding of history, more so than the average English person.

Cromwell was responsible for the slaughter of many Irish people. The hate for him is justified in my opinion.

Took the words right out of my mouth. His "New Model Army," while effective in the republican cause, was designed as an expeditionary force to deploy and harass all the countries of Great Britain, backing an essential paramilitary theocratic state (the "theo" being republican Puritanism rather than the then-ruling Church of England which you could view as really a political arm of the House of Tudor, rather than the church driving poltical policy).

Post: #8

I'm sure Churchill wrote about this in his History of the English Speaking Peoples.

Post: #9

Thanks for the recommendations.

Yes, the Irish have good reason to hate Oliver Cromwell. The band the Pogues mention him in the song "Young Ned of the Hill."

"A curse upon you Oliver Cromwell
You who raped our Motherland
I hope you're rotting down in hell
For the horrors that you sent
To our misfortunate forefathers
Whom you robbed of their birthright
"To hell or Connaught" may you burn in hell tonight"

Post: #10

There's an excellent podcast that goes over the entire english civil war and talks about all the key events.

It's called Revolutions and the guy who does it is Mike Duncan.

He also did a very comprehensive and huge History of Rome podcast which rivals some scholarly works.

Post: #11

(09-21-2014 06:00 PM)El Chinito loco Wrote:  There's an excellent podcast that goes over the entire english civil war and talks about all the key events.

It's called Revolutions and the guy who does it is Mike Duncan.

He also did a very comprehensive and huge History of Rome podcast which rivals some scholarly works.

Shit, checked his blog and it looks awesome: http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/

Post: #12

(09-21-2014 06:00 PM)El Chinito loco Wrote:  There's an excellent podcast that goes over the entire english civil war and talks about all the key events.

It's called Revolutions and the guy who does it is Mike Duncan.

He also did a very comprehensive and huge History of Rome podcast which rivals some scholarly works.

Thank you very much for that.

Post: #13

(09-21-2014 11:40 PM)BadgerHut Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 06:00 PM)El Chinito loco Wrote:  There's an excellent podcast that goes over the entire english civil war and talks about all the key events.

It's called Revolutions and the guy who does it is Mike Duncan.

He also did a very comprehensive and huge History of Rome podcast which rivals some scholarly works.

Shit, checked his blog and it looks awesome: http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/

The series on the English Civil War starts here:
http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/2013/0...tuart.html