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History In An Hour

The Gunpowder Plot: History In An Hour

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History for busy people. Read a succinct history of the Gunpowder Plot in just one hour.

‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November’. The gunpowder plot is a famed tale of treachery that continues to fascinate and capture the imagination four hundred years on.

The Gunpowder Plot in an Hour reveals the elaborate background to the infamous plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and James I, the ultimate act of treason. This compelling and engaging account of one of the most famous historical events in English history follows the Catholic protagonists hatching their plan through to their inevitable, gruesome deaths.

Learn who the Catholic traitors were, what drove them to such desperate measures, and how the plot was discovered. The Gunpowder Plot in an Hour gives a concise overview of this enduring event and is a must for all history lovers.

Love your history? Find out about the world with History in an Hour…

60 pages, ebook

First published October 23, 2012

13 people are currently reading
120 people want to read

About the author

Sinead Fitzgibbon

7 books23 followers
Sinead Fitzgibbon graduated from university with a degree in Economics, before leaving her native Ireland to work in investment banking in Sydney for six years.

She returned to the UK in 2007 to pursue her writing career. She has always loved history, literature and art – and spends most weekends browsing London’s multitude of museums, art galleries and bookshops.

Favourite author: Virginia Woolf
Favourite book: Mrs Dalloway
Favourite artist: Caravaggio
Favourite place: Victoria & Albert Museum
Favourite food: Chocolate
Favourite quote: "You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace." - Frank Mc Court, Angela's Ashes

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5 stars
58 (26%)
4 stars
93 (42%)
3 stars
57 (26%)
2 stars
7 (3%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Peter.
4,071 reviews797 followers
October 2, 2022
Here you get all the essential details on the gunpowder conspiracy. What it was about and how it was prevented. Besides some interesting theories on who wrote the letter and what King James I might have known beforehand. Guy Fawkes day has a long tradition since. Now you'll know what it really is about. Written in an intriguing style, politics explained in an easy way. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Helene.
371 reviews5 followers
October 16, 2019
I'm LIVING for this time period at the moment. And it's quite interesting that there were so many involved in the gunpowder plot and Guy Fawkes - the one that was the least involved - is the one everyone is talking about today and is burning a doll version of every 5th of november.

Remember, remember!
the fifth of November,
the Gunpowder treason and plot;
i know of no reason
why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Profile Image for Philip Battle.
76 reviews
May 29, 2019
Love these History-in-an-Hour eBooks, ideal if you haven't got much time or just need a quick read fix or want to gen-up on a particular subject. Well written and packed with relevant dates and facts. Also great for whetting your appetite when it comes to a particular historical subject, rather then wading into a lengthy tome.

An explosive ****FOUR STARS****
Profile Image for Mikael Cerbing.
623 reviews3 followers
November 1, 2024
I really like these in an hour books. They give a good overview over a person or an event, without getting bogged down in to many details. They are probably quite simplistic, but they at least give an idea about something.
Profile Image for Már Másson.
139 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2022
Mjög áhugaverð saga og vel framreidd.
Þessi history in an hour bókaflokkur á Storytel er æðislega skemmtilegur.
Profile Image for Andrea Zuvich.
Author 9 books240 followers
October 22, 2015
A very good introduction to the Gunpowder Plot. I think Fitzgibbon's work is a succinct, unbiased look at the key issues and people involved in the plot, and as such I recommend it to anyone who only has an hour to learn about it. I honestly don't understand why there are so many 3 stars, as to get into further detail means you should read a full-length book, such as Antonia Fraser's. For History in an Hour, I think it totally hits the mark.
974 reviews5 followers
January 20, 2021
“Gunpowder plot” czyli spisek prochowy to kolejne ważne wydarzenie w historii Anglii, które nie było mi znane. Miało miejsce w 1605 roku i celem tego spisku było wysadzenie budynku parlamentu podczas otwarcia obrad. W spisku miało zginąć większość członków parlamentu oraz król. Zanim jednak spisek został uskuteczniony przez przypadek oraz na podstawie anonimowego listu udało się zapobiec tej wielkiej tragedii. Tło całego spisku ma podłoże religijne, chodziło o to aby protestancka elita została zlikwidowana. Spisek prochowy pokazuje nam jak wielkie było napięcie pomiędzy protestantami a katolikami. Do dziś obchodzone są rocznice spisku prochowego a nawet kilkanaście lat temu hucznie obchodzone 400 lecie. Istnieje nawet piosenka-wiersz, którą wcześniej już słyszałem, ale nie byłem świadomy, że właśnie nawiązuje do tego wydarzenia historycznego.
1 review
November 10, 2017
Revenge

I being born a catholic understand too well the corruption of the popes and bishops during the medieval ages, and I too would probably have turned protestant, but the backlash from the reformation on the protestant side was more horrific and though it has diminished over the centuries, their still remains an underlying hatred to Catholic people in Britain today. The act of succession is a typical example.
Profile Image for Alžběta.
640 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2022
This book offers a treasure trove of fascinating bits and pieces, providing both a comprehensive overview of the period and what caused the plot, as well as intriguing little details about those involved. (Such as Guy Fawkes being called Guido or using the fake name of John Johnson on the night of the plot.)
The narration is flawless. Jonathan Keeble could read a list of groceries, and I would enjoy it enormously. His voice is magical!
Profile Image for Susan.
665 reviews21 followers
October 23, 2021
Wasn't bad but like the other histories in an hour skips things that upon reflection were necessary for understanding. In this case it was why was it spoilt? A lot of how the plot went togoether, and then what happened to the traitors for which Fitzgibbon is very biased towards, but nothing on the foil.
1 review
March 28, 2018
A good conspiracy

A good read about a good conspiracy guy Fawkes is the only man iin history to have entered Parliament with good intensions
65 reviews
November 25, 2018
A very interesting and informative little read about one of the more interesting periods in British history.
96 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2021
A nice easy way to learn history where i learnt facts new to me.
Profile Image for counter-hegemonicon.
298 reviews36 followers
November 17, 2025
Riveting and really fleshed out the historical details behind the Guy Fawkes story, spoiler: he was not the main guy. Very fun as a Eva vendetta fan, film and graphic novel
Profile Image for Garry Marlton.
438 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2014
it was ok and I suppose knowing it was history in an hour the depth was not going to be much. Though I did learn more about Catesby and will more than likley get a more indepth book, I was left with the feeling that the book could have offered more.
Profile Image for Marian Leica.
131 reviews8 followers
March 23, 2021
A clear rich synthesis of the gunpowder plot helping you understand better European/British history, how the King James Bible came to be, and the "V for Vendetta" film altogether.
Profile Image for Gareth.
273 reviews5 followers
March 4, 2023
A nice, concise book explaining the gunpowder plot and why/when/how it happened in the first place. Exactly what i expected from History in an Hour. Good read
3 reviews
May 2, 2017
It was a pretty quick read but then again it was written to be read in an hour. Seems like it gave you most of the background information needed to understand the reasons for why this occurred and who was involved. It assumes you already know of the strife in England at that time concerning Protestants and Catholics. This is not a book about the reformation but rather a point in history where the balance of religious power and control was hoped to be swung.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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