Stuart England

The Pelican History of England #6

by J.P. Kenyon

The seventeenth century in England was a period of unprecedented growth and fulfilment; the key century of the modern era.

When the century opened, England was a comparatively poor nation on the fringes of Europe. When it closed, she was one of the major powers. Along the way the country had surmounted a civil war and a major rebellion. Yet her institutions and social structure were, if anything, strengthened: in fact, during this century Parliament evolved into something approaching its present form and function, and the great philosophers Hobbes and Locke fashioned new and far-reaching theories of political obligation to accommodate it. At the same time, scientists, led by Newton, were causing a reappraisal of the way the physical world was viewed, and radicals like John Lilburne were (prematurely) laying the foundations of proletarian socialism.

Stuart England is the subject of continual and active research, and Professor Kenyon's survey presents a unified picture of this contentious century, as well as featuring a full and up to date critical bibliography.

'Has the intellectual vigour, the boldness of judgement, the sharp character sketches and the sheer readability that one has come to expect of its writer' - History

Genres: History, Nonfiction, European History, English Civil War, British Literature, 17th Century

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

John Philipps Kenyon was an English historian. He was one of the foremost historians of 17th-century England, a prolific writer and reviewer, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

Reviews

[Marijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

een heel saai boek over de meest interessante periode in engelse geschiedenis, ging alleen maar over belastingen en begrotingen van het parlement (en niet over burgeroorlog en revolutie en een onthoofde koning) lame!!!!

[Matt Kuhns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the best assessment I can provide of Stuart England is that I checked it out for research on a limited sub-topic, but read the entire work anyway. I was impressed enough by a strain of wit and humor to see it through as recreational reading. Looking back now, however, that wit seemed to dry up after the first few chapters, leaving the remainder of the book too much like an encyclopedia article.

There are, as Holmes would say, "points of interest" all the same. Despite the arid style, Kenyon does give consideration to themes and interpretation, and often challenges familiar orthodoxy. By no means is he always convincing, to my mind, but his arguments did at least prove interesting and thought-provoking once sifted from the dry chaff of facts and events.

Bottom line, though, if you're seeking an overview of Stuart-dynasty England: you can probably find more engaging options elsewhere.

[Paige Costinescu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good for a very brief overview of the Stuart period. However I found it difficult to read due to the dullness of the writing. There were parts which were written with wit and flair, but this didn't really make up for the long moments of monotony in which I found myself drifting off to sleep.

[zed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide to the life of the tragic Stuarts. For an overview this is a good read.

[Imre Bártfai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a political history in the strict sense. The author challenges many traditional theories of English political history which is interesting but all content is lot in the heap of information. Seemingly endless lists of names and events, especially about parliament haggling fill the book, and you have to be well acquianted with Stuart-age English history to fathom all this. Certainly a serious book, but it could be and probably should be, easier to read.

[Joe]

For an interminable account of parliamentary wrangling and almost 100% erasure of slavery and triangle trade from 100+ years of English history... Ok this should do it RE: homeopathic inoculation RE: 17th C history.

[Julaine]

Source:

[Chas Bayfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced to read this as an A level student in the eighties. I'm sure I would appreciate it more now.