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Antichrist in Seventeenth Century England
In the centuries following the Reformation, Antichrist—the biblical Beast, whose coming was to precede the end of the world and the coming of Christ’s kingdom—was an intensely real figure. The debate raged as to who this Antichrist, whose downfall was now at hand, might be. Was he the Pope? Bishops? A state church? The monarchy? Or was it just a term of abuse to be hurled at anybody one disliked?
Christopher Hill, one of Britain’s most distinguished historians, here reconstructs the significance of Antichrist during the revolutionary crises of the early seventeenth century. Radical Protestant sects applied the term—a name synonymous with repression and persecution—to those Establishment institutions of which they disapproved; in particular, the Pope. Then, with that revolution in thought which resulted in the separation of religion from politics, the figure of Antichrist lost its significance.
Christopher Hill, one of Britain’s most distinguished historians, here reconstructs the significance of Antichrist during the revolutionary crises of the early seventeenth century. Radical Protestant sects applied the term—a name synonymous with repression and persecution—to those Establishment institutions of which they disapproved; in particular, the Pope. Then, with that revolution in thought which resulted in the separation of religion from politics, the figure of Antichrist lost its significance.
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Christopher Hill
171 books96 followersJohn Edward Christopher Hill was the pre-eminent historian of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century English history, and one of the most distinguished historians of recent times. Fellow historian E.P. Thompson once referred to him as the dean and paragon of English historians.
He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. During World War II, he served in the Russian department of the British Foreign Office, returning to teach at Oxford after the war.
From 1958-1965 he was University Lecturer in 16th- and 17th-century history, and from 1965-1978 he was Master of Balliol College. He was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the British Academy. He received numerous honorary degrees over the course of his career, including the Hon. Dr. Sorbonne Nouvelle in 1979.
Hill was an active Marxist and a member of the Communist Party from approximately 1934-1957, falling out with the Party after the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprisings of 1956.
In their obituary, The Guardian wrote of Hill:
"Christopher Hill…was the commanding interpreter of 17th-century England, and of much else besides.…it was as the defining Marxist historian of the century of revolution, the title of one of the most widely studied of his many books, that he became known to generations of students around the world. For all these, too, he will always be the master." [http://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/...]
He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. During World War II, he served in the Russian department of the British Foreign Office, returning to teach at Oxford after the war.
From 1958-1965 he was University Lecturer in 16th- and 17th-century history, and from 1965-1978 he was Master of Balliol College. He was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the British Academy. He received numerous honorary degrees over the course of his career, including the Hon. Dr. Sorbonne Nouvelle in 1979.
Hill was an active Marxist and a member of the Communist Party from approximately 1934-1957, falling out with the Party after the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprisings of 1956.
In their obituary, The Guardian wrote of Hill:
"Christopher Hill…was the commanding interpreter of 17th-century England, and of much else besides.…it was as the defining Marxist historian of the century of revolution, the title of one of the most widely studied of his many books, that he became known to generations of students around the world. For all these, too, he will always be the master." [http://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/...]
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 20, 2024
I have been after a copy of this for many years, and it doesn't disappoint. Christopher Hill is one of those historians who makes his point by the weight of evidence that he gathers, yet his Marxist approach is apparently uncluttered by an abstract,ideological framework.
He looks at the "Antichrist" (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antic...) as an recurring myth in writings before and after the 1640's. Hill shows how the medieval use of the term "Antichrist" - a commonplace in Elizabethan England to apply to the Pope- was extended in the seventeen century first to church bishops and courts, and then more widely to all forms of government,(even men of property, see Winstanley), as it gained a political currency.
He looks at the "Antichrist" (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antic...) as an recurring myth in writings before and after the 1640's. Hill shows how the medieval use of the term "Antichrist" - a commonplace in Elizabethan England to apply to the Pope- was extended in the seventeen century first to church bishops and courts, and then more widely to all forms of government,(even men of property, see Winstanley), as it gained a political currency.
September 23, 2017
Agree with the average rating at a 3.5 : not quite as good as the world turned upside down- but no mean text by any means. His appendices are especially interesting and beg expansion- fun read
July 26, 2011
not hill at his best, too much detail not enough narrative nor direction
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews