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1666: Plague, War and Hellfire
1666 was a watershed year for England. The outbreak of the Great Plague, the eruption of the second Dutch War and the Great Fire of London all struck the country in rapid succession and with devastating repercussions.
Shedding light on these dramatic events, historian Rebecca Rideal reveals an unprecedented period of terror and triumph. Based on original archival research and drawing on little-known sources, 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire takes readers on a thrilling journey through a crucial turning point in English history, as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary cast of historical characters.
While the central events of this significant year were ones of devastation and defeat, 1666 also offers a glimpse of the incredible scientific and artistic progress being made at that time, from Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity to Robert Hooke's microscopic wonders. It was in this year that John Milton completed Paradise Lost, Frances Stewart posed for the now-iconic image of Britannia, and a young architect named Christopher Wren proposed a plan for a new London - a stone phoenix to rise from the charred ashes of the old city.
With flair and style, 1666 shows a city and a country on the cusp of modernity, and a series of events that forever altered the course of history.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2016
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September 1, 2019
1665
It started with tiny fleas, like those viewed under the microscope by Robert Hooke who was working on a project in which he created amongst other things, an 18-inch fold-out image of a magnified flea. Fleas which carried Yersinia pestis might be on board ship and would jump from transported goods onto living beings, in particular the black rat, Rattus rattus which then transported them onto land. These fleas were the bringers of plague. It was not the first time that England had experienced plague, but the epidemic that started in 1665 was to continue into 1666, a devastating year for England, and in particular for London. This time it started in the parish of St Giles in the Fields. Originally there was what seemed like an isolated case in January. This was followed by a second fatality in February. There were more fatalities. Measures were taken to attempt to contain the disease. At the time when this was happening, theatre was flourishing and young Nell Gwynn who became famous as an actress and as being one of Charles II’s mistresses, was starting her career. Theatres were packed. The plague spread. By May it had spread to other nearby villages. By mid June the number of deaths had jumped from 43 in one week to 112 the next, and then it soared to 168 in a week. By now the plague was within the city walls and people, including John Milton and John Dryden fled to the countryside. About 30,000 fled at the beginning of July. More stringent measures were put into place including the banning of goods being sold in the street and the closure of schools. By August there were more than 6,000 reported plague deaths. All sorts of remedies were tried, and quacks profited from the situation. Plunder and murder were not uncommon. “On one occasion, a nurse reportedly fell down dead under the burden of goods stolen from a house full of plague dead.” Eventually “All public activities excepting worship were banned. Houses in which someone had the plague were closed up and locked, resulting in the deaths of everyone within. In the words of a certain Thomas Clarke who had been thus confined:
"It is estimated that 100,000 people lost their lives to plague in London."
This is but a very brief summary of that dreadful event. This excellent book by Rebecca Rideal provides a wealth of interesting detail. She discusses what was going on at the time, what was happening at the theatre, scientific work being done, etc. There are accounts of the experiences of individuals, including those of Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist. In fact, Pepys features prominently throughout this book. The author also discusses Isaac Newton’s activities. "At some point in early summer, Newton left the city and returned to his family home of Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, adding his name to the vast number of men, women and children moving around England to escape the contagion. The exile would be the most academically fruitful period of his life."
At the time of the plague, England was also at war with the Dutch, and in that same year had a most unfortunate encounter with the Dutch at Bergen, Norway. This was not the end of the story, and skirmishes continued. The plague and the war had all sorts of ramifications which affected the economy and the daily lives of the populace, all carefully detailed in this book. Meanwhile the French were also becoming a distinct threat. So, the year 1665 did not end on a good note. But what did 1666 hold?
1666
Finally by January the plague death rate had dropped significantly. “On 8 January, royal orders were issued to the Justices of the Peace in the City of London and Westminster to ensure that ‘. . . all the Bedding, and other Goods in the Several Infected Houses be well aired, the Rooms all new whited, and the Churchyards to be covered with Earth two foot high’. Thomas Bludworth, the new Lord Mayor, who had been ushered in the previous October with minimal ceremony, sent out orders for the City of London to be fumigated.”
However, the news wasn’t entirely good, as the French declared war in January. Meanwhile the war with the Dutch was ongoing. In June the English suffered another humiliating defeat by the Dutch during the Four Day Battle. 3,000 people, Dutch and English, were killed in this battle. In addition there were 1,450 English wounded and 1,800 captured. The English had divided their navy with disastrous results. The battle is described in magnificent detail. In the Dutch fleet was the artist Willem van de Velde who would later paint this event. Both the Bergen fiasco and the Four Day Battle had relied on incorrect information. England now sought additional spies, and Aphra Behn was sent to recruit a certain William Scott. Aphra is better known to us today as a playwright and poet. In August the English attacked the town of West Terschilling on the Dutch island of Terschilling and wreaked havoc. This incident became known as “Holmes’s Bonfire”.
In August St Paul’s Cathedral which had been built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries was being surveyed for repairs. Amongst those involved was Christopher Wren. They might as well not have bothered, because on 2nd September, 1666 fire broke out at a baker’s in Pudding Lane. It had been named Pudding Lane as this is where butchers turned offal into puddings. The baker shop in question was owned by Thomas Farriner whose family woke up between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. to find the house on fire. Fortunately they managed to scramble out, but unfortunately their maid succumbed to the flames and smoke. Ms Rideal describes the various stages of the fire, the initial shock of the populace, the inefficiency of the Lord Mayor, the subsequent steps taken by Charles II who engaged his brother, the Duke of York, to deal with the situation. We learn what happened to various individuals, and follow Pepys around London during the fire. When Pepys eventually decided that his house was under imminent threat, he dug two pits before removing his family from the scene. In one pit he buried his precious wine and parmesan cheese. By the end of day one, about a quarter of the historic city went up in flames. On the second day the magnificent Baynard’s Castle collapsed. The fire could be seen forty miles away. Day three was reputedly the worst day, and by this time people were exhausted by their fight against the flames. That evening St Paul’s succumbed to the flames. Finally by day four the fire was subsiding.
Once again there were profiteers lining their own pockets. Again there were also several murders. “Writing to Lord Arlington’s secretary, Joseph Williamson, the clerk at the General Letter Office, James Hickes, who had relocated to the north of the city, reported that ‘there are many people found murdered and carried into the vaults amongst the ruins’.” Another ugly consequence was mob hysteria. Foreigners were blamed and attacked. Bizarrely, a Frenchman confessed to being the culprit and was duly executed. All sorts of rumours abounded. Not only the fire, but its aftermath are well documented in this book. Some 70,000 people were homeless. 1666 was not a good year to be living in London! The immediate concern after the fire was to provide for the thousands of refugees. By February a Rebuilding Act was passed to reconstruct the devastated city.
Many famous people appear in this book, and at the end the author provides a brief summary of what happened to them. The book is illustrated, and is well documented. Much of the information is from primary sources.
I found this book extremely interesting. I provided a mere skeleton of the events. Read the book for its fascinating details. Highly recommended.
It started with tiny fleas, like those viewed under the microscope by Robert Hooke who was working on a project in which he created amongst other things, an 18-inch fold-out image of a magnified flea. Fleas which carried Yersinia pestis might be on board ship and would jump from transported goods onto living beings, in particular the black rat, Rattus rattus which then transported them onto land. These fleas were the bringers of plague. It was not the first time that England had experienced plague, but the epidemic that started in 1665 was to continue into 1666, a devastating year for England, and in particular for London. This time it started in the parish of St Giles in the Fields. Originally there was what seemed like an isolated case in January. This was followed by a second fatality in February. There were more fatalities. Measures were taken to attempt to contain the disease. At the time when this was happening, theatre was flourishing and young Nell Gwynn who became famous as an actress and as being one of Charles II’s mistresses, was starting her career. Theatres were packed. The plague spread. By May it had spread to other nearby villages. By mid June the number of deaths had jumped from 43 in one week to 112 the next, and then it soared to 168 in a week. By now the plague was within the city walls and people, including John Milton and John Dryden fled to the countryside. About 30,000 fled at the beginning of July. More stringent measures were put into place including the banning of goods being sold in the street and the closure of schools. By August there were more than 6,000 reported plague deaths. All sorts of remedies were tried, and quacks profited from the situation. Plunder and murder were not uncommon. “On one occasion, a nurse reportedly fell down dead under the burden of goods stolen from a house full of plague dead.” Eventually “All public activities excepting worship were banned. Houses in which someone had the plague were closed up and locked, resulting in the deaths of everyone within. In the words of a certain Thomas Clarke who had been thus confined:
“The Daughter dareth not approach the Mother,
Nor dares one Brother to come at another.
The father may not his own child come near
Nor may the child the parents for fear.
The Mother doth bewail her child at a distance,
The child oft wants the Mother’s strong assistance.”
"It is estimated that 100,000 people lost their lives to plague in London."
This is but a very brief summary of that dreadful event. This excellent book by Rebecca Rideal provides a wealth of interesting detail. She discusses what was going on at the time, what was happening at the theatre, scientific work being done, etc. There are accounts of the experiences of individuals, including those of Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist. In fact, Pepys features prominently throughout this book. The author also discusses Isaac Newton’s activities. "At some point in early summer, Newton left the city and returned to his family home of Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, adding his name to the vast number of men, women and children moving around England to escape the contagion. The exile would be the most academically fruitful period of his life."
At the time of the plague, England was also at war with the Dutch, and in that same year had a most unfortunate encounter with the Dutch at Bergen, Norway. This was not the end of the story, and skirmishes continued. The plague and the war had all sorts of ramifications which affected the economy and the daily lives of the populace, all carefully detailed in this book. Meanwhile the French were also becoming a distinct threat. So, the year 1665 did not end on a good note. But what did 1666 hold?
1666
Finally by January the plague death rate had dropped significantly. “On 8 January, royal orders were issued to the Justices of the Peace in the City of London and Westminster to ensure that ‘. . . all the Bedding, and other Goods in the Several Infected Houses be well aired, the Rooms all new whited, and the Churchyards to be covered with Earth two foot high’. Thomas Bludworth, the new Lord Mayor, who had been ushered in the previous October with minimal ceremony, sent out orders for the City of London to be fumigated.”
However, the news wasn’t entirely good, as the French declared war in January. Meanwhile the war with the Dutch was ongoing. In June the English suffered another humiliating defeat by the Dutch during the Four Day Battle. 3,000 people, Dutch and English, were killed in this battle. In addition there were 1,450 English wounded and 1,800 captured. The English had divided their navy with disastrous results. The battle is described in magnificent detail. In the Dutch fleet was the artist Willem van de Velde who would later paint this event. Both the Bergen fiasco and the Four Day Battle had relied on incorrect information. England now sought additional spies, and Aphra Behn was sent to recruit a certain William Scott. Aphra is better known to us today as a playwright and poet. In August the English attacked the town of West Terschilling on the Dutch island of Terschilling and wreaked havoc. This incident became known as “Holmes’s Bonfire”.
In August St Paul’s Cathedral which had been built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries was being surveyed for repairs. Amongst those involved was Christopher Wren. They might as well not have bothered, because on 2nd September, 1666 fire broke out at a baker’s in Pudding Lane. It had been named Pudding Lane as this is where butchers turned offal into puddings. The baker shop in question was owned by Thomas Farriner whose family woke up between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. to find the house on fire. Fortunately they managed to scramble out, but unfortunately their maid succumbed to the flames and smoke. Ms Rideal describes the various stages of the fire, the initial shock of the populace, the inefficiency of the Lord Mayor, the subsequent steps taken by Charles II who engaged his brother, the Duke of York, to deal with the situation. We learn what happened to various individuals, and follow Pepys around London during the fire. When Pepys eventually decided that his house was under imminent threat, he dug two pits before removing his family from the scene. In one pit he buried his precious wine and parmesan cheese. By the end of day one, about a quarter of the historic city went up in flames. On the second day the magnificent Baynard’s Castle collapsed. The fire could be seen forty miles away. Day three was reputedly the worst day, and by this time people were exhausted by their fight against the flames. That evening St Paul’s succumbed to the flames. Finally by day four the fire was subsiding.
Once again there were profiteers lining their own pockets. Again there were also several murders. “Writing to Lord Arlington’s secretary, Joseph Williamson, the clerk at the General Letter Office, James Hickes, who had relocated to the north of the city, reported that ‘there are many people found murdered and carried into the vaults amongst the ruins’.” Another ugly consequence was mob hysteria. Foreigners were blamed and attacked. Bizarrely, a Frenchman confessed to being the culprit and was duly executed. All sorts of rumours abounded. Not only the fire, but its aftermath are well documented in this book. Some 70,000 people were homeless. 1666 was not a good year to be living in London! The immediate concern after the fire was to provide for the thousands of refugees. By February a Rebuilding Act was passed to reconstruct the devastated city.
Many famous people appear in this book, and at the end the author provides a brief summary of what happened to them. The book is illustrated, and is well documented. Much of the information is from primary sources.
I found this book extremely interesting. I provided a mere skeleton of the events. Read the book for its fascinating details. Highly recommended.
Read
March 8, 2017A book about a year even worse that 2016/17 (at least if you were a Londoner). Who'd have thought.
This is really interesting. It's horizontal history instead of vertical, giving us a whole lot of different perspectives on the Great Plague, Great Fire and Anglo Dutch War, from the King down to merchants and printers passing various famous names on the way. It gives a much broader picture than the usual one of the nobility. And honestly I had no idea there was a war going on in 1665-6 at all, that usually gets left out.
One of the most interesting parts for me was the author picking up on hints of the trauma caused by living through those events and their lasting effect on people's psyches. Added to the whole impression of the book, which was to bring this period alive by intense and vivid detail.
This is really interesting. It's horizontal history instead of vertical, giving us a whole lot of different perspectives on the Great Plague, Great Fire and Anglo Dutch War, from the King down to merchants and printers passing various famous names on the way. It gives a much broader picture than the usual one of the nobility. And honestly I had no idea there was a war going on in 1665-6 at all, that usually gets left out.
One of the most interesting parts for me was the author picking up on hints of the trauma caused by living through those events and their lasting effect on people's psyches. Added to the whole impression of the book, which was to bring this period alive by intense and vivid detail.
January 8, 2017
A thoroughly readable romp through events in England in 1665 and 1666, covering the return of the Plague, the Anglo-Dutch Wars and of course the Fire of London. Historical detail rubs up against historical colour so that we are offered factual accounts of the Plague's grim impact and the extent of the Fire's damage alongside the diary recollections and eye-witness accounts of Pepys, John Evelyn, William Taswell and others. I found the youthful Taswell's thoughts the most moving, especially given his later very quiet and sad life, as revealed at the end. The descriptions of the Anglo-Dutch naval conflicts are particularly well done, almost cinematically laid out: I don't mean it as an insult to say that you occasionally forget you are reading a work of historical non-fiction and find yourself switching into novel-reading mode. The chapter on the Plague is suitably chilling. I felt the chapter on the Fire could have been fleshed out more, particularly the account of the post-Fire determination to remake London, which is touched upon but not in depth. And I would have liked more analysis on the lingering tensions of the Civil Wars in 1660s England, and the role played by the Dutch Republic in sustaining and stirring them up: it's there, but tantalisingly undrawn out. One is also left wanting more on the economic nature of the conflict between the English and the Dutch and what it revealed about the bloody birth of capitalism and imperialism. Still, for those who enjoy popular, accessible history, as I do, this book is a real treat.
April 28, 2018
A breezy, readable overview of one of London's Annus Horribilis (really important to spell that right, it's a lot worse than a dodgy Jal Frezi), taking in plague, naval warfare with the French and Dutch and a very out of control barbeque, not to mention a whole load of royal scandals. A very nice, readable primer, which could do with a bit more detail on the country at large, but a good introduction to the restoration. And prefect for answering a seven year old's school questions on the Great Fire.
October 8, 2017
I originally picked up this book because of my fascination for all things plague related (I know, morbid, right?!) But what started as a "I'll read and hope to stumble across new things about the plague" turned into me finding myself being completely fascinated by London in 1665/1666.
Structured wonderfully so you get a taste of society, culture, war and horror that London offered in the 17th century, I appreciate how something that has often been delivered in quite a dry way reads really easily.
4*
Structured wonderfully so you get a taste of society, culture, war and horror that London offered in the 17th century, I appreciate how something that has often been delivered in quite a dry way reads really easily.
4*
July 18, 2019
A very accessible read on the year 1666 in British politics and also the lives of those living in London. I listened to the audiobook and finished it in a day and would definitely recommend it if you have an interest.
February 8, 2019
God really said 'fuck the English' in 1666, and we didn't take the hint.
I really enjoyed this! It's a fascinating snapshot into one of the most turbulent years in English history. The author has a brilliant turn of phrase, and the pace gallops along without ever losing any of the information. My only problem was that when I reached the end, I wanted more!
Also, anyone else find it funny that you can tag for spoilers on non-fiction????
Hey everyone: London burns down.
I really enjoyed this! It's a fascinating snapshot into one of the most turbulent years in English history. The author has a brilliant turn of phrase, and the pace gallops along without ever losing any of the information. My only problem was that when I reached the end, I wanted more!
Also, anyone else find it funny that you can tag for spoilers on non-fiction????
Hey everyone: London burns down.
December 24, 2020
Between March 1665 and the end of 1666 England suffered one catastrophic event after another. This is the story of that devastating time.
The British and The Dutch (allied with France) were entering their second war over trade routes and the colonies they both hungered to control. As men were being killed in battle, on the home front bubonic plague was ravaging the country. More than 100,000 people died from those events. Then, on September 2, 1666, London began to burn. The fire started in a bakery and helped along by high winds, quickly spread across the city. Indecision, by the Mayor, on whether to start knocking down buildings to establish firebreaks, hampered controlling the blaze. The time wasted allowed the fire to grow out of control.
Rebecca Rideal, in her research found little known archived diaries. The story is told through common men and some intellectuals who lived in Great Britain: Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren and others. These voices bring a layer to the story that takes it from "dry history" to interesting and extremely readable.
Although the 17th century was a time of scientific and artistic enlightenment, the fire and brimstone preachers still held sway over a large majority of the population. These preachers, at the beginning of the plague, had shouted from their pulpits that the number "666" was the sign of the devil and the year was sure to bring punishment from God, for the sin oozing from London. No one knowing how the fire began, the man on the street began to spread the rumor that it was arson by the Dutch or the French. This led to public beatings and killings of anyone with a foreign accent.
A quick easy read, but only for those of you with a love of history.
The British and The Dutch (allied with France) were entering their second war over trade routes and the colonies they both hungered to control. As men were being killed in battle, on the home front bubonic plague was ravaging the country. More than 100,000 people died from those events. Then, on September 2, 1666, London began to burn. The fire started in a bakery and helped along by high winds, quickly spread across the city. Indecision, by the Mayor, on whether to start knocking down buildings to establish firebreaks, hampered controlling the blaze. The time wasted allowed the fire to grow out of control.
Rebecca Rideal, in her research found little known archived diaries. The story is told through common men and some intellectuals who lived in Great Britain: Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren and others. These voices bring a layer to the story that takes it from "dry history" to interesting and extremely readable.
Although the 17th century was a time of scientific and artistic enlightenment, the fire and brimstone preachers still held sway over a large majority of the population. These preachers, at the beginning of the plague, had shouted from their pulpits that the number "666" was the sign of the devil and the year was sure to bring punishment from God, for the sin oozing from London. No one knowing how the fire began, the man on the street began to spread the rumor that it was arson by the Dutch or the French. This led to public beatings and killings of anyone with a foreign accent.
A quick easy read, but only for those of you with a love of history.
July 4, 2017
An erudite and utterly readable account of a year that marked great change in London as it suffered the aftermath of the plague (which is covered really well), war with the Dutch and French, profound naval losses and threats, discord in parliament, the whims of a capricious king, and then the catastrophic Great Fire. Drawing from contemporary sources and well as recent research, Rideal's book is a terrific read for scholars or those with an interest in a fascinating and heart-wrenching period of English history.
April 22, 2020
Over the period of 1665-1666 the city of London experienced a deadly plague, the impacts of a new Anglo-Dutch war and an inferno that would be forever known to history as the Great Fire of London. Many people died, many lost their homes and their livelihoods. This book looks at what happened and how it affected residents and the city itself. It's written in a way that's easily digestible and includes plenty of intriguing stories about those involved, both the well-to-do and the common folk.
March 21, 2017
The sections dealing with the plague and the Fire of London were the best sections of the book. I found the section dealing with the Anglo-Dutch War a bit dry.
May 18, 2018
This isn't a bad book, but I think it could be much better. For one thing, I think a couple of maps would have helped a lot to explain where the various naval battles were taking place, and to show the progress of the fire. In the latter case, a map might be unnecessary if you are familiar with London's geography, which I am not (especially the 17th century version of London).
I also found the author to be rather vague about the timing of the fire. We first hear of it when a message is sent to the fleet, saying, in effect, "London is burning! Come quickly!" The next chapter begins with "A few days earlier", but never actually tells us the date that the fire started. The rest of the chronology is "later that day", "the next night", "on Wednesday", and so on. I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I think it would have brought the story into focus a little more sharply if the author had actually said, "September 2" at the start of it all.
.
In addition, I wonder about some of the terminology. I was under the impression that a frigate was a specific type of naval vessel, but the author describes virtually every line-of-battle ship as a frigate, even first-rate ships. This might be a proper use of the term in the 17th century, but it left me wondering about the accuracy of other items in the description.
Finally, I think that there are some characters who are mentioned but not developed sufficiently, such as most of the common folk. However, even principal characters like Rochester and Monck are rather vague.
So, no show-stoppers for anyone who is looking to learn a bit more about this period, but not really a compelling book, either. It was "OK", and the two-star rating suggests.
I also found the author to be rather vague about the timing of the fire. We first hear of it when a message is sent to the fleet, saying, in effect, "London is burning! Come quickly!" The next chapter begins with "A few days earlier", but never actually tells us the date that the fire started. The rest of the chronology is "later that day", "the next night", "on Wednesday", and so on. I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I think it would have brought the story into focus a little more sharply if the author had actually said, "September 2" at the start of it all.
.
In addition, I wonder about some of the terminology. I was under the impression that a frigate was a specific type of naval vessel, but the author describes virtually every line-of-battle ship as a frigate, even first-rate ships. This might be a proper use of the term in the 17th century, but it left me wondering about the accuracy of other items in the description.
Finally, I think that there are some characters who are mentioned but not developed sufficiently, such as most of the common folk. However, even principal characters like Rochester and Monck are rather vague.
So, no show-stoppers for anyone who is looking to learn a bit more about this period, but not really a compelling book, either. It was "OK", and the two-star rating suggests.
October 6, 2016
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I found this to be a very interesting book about a turbulent couple of years in British history - the plague and the Great Fire of London taking place during a period of war against the Dutch.
Rebecca Rideal describes in great detail the lives of Londoners of all social classes during these events drawing on firsthand accounts such as Pepys diaries.
The book brings home the horrors that people were subjected to at this time but goes on to show how London was reborn after the fire.
I found this to be a very interesting book about a turbulent couple of years in British history - the plague and the Great Fire of London taking place during a period of war against the Dutch.
Rebecca Rideal describes in great detail the lives of Londoners of all social classes during these events drawing on firsthand accounts such as Pepys diaries.
The book brings home the horrors that people were subjected to at this time but goes on to show how London was reborn after the fire.
January 10, 2025
The book should be called “ 1666: some info on plague and a lot of facts about random people, stupid war for no reason and a bunch more facts about random people, and hellfire that made impact on a bunch more random people”. Frustratingly, very little time was spent discussing the actual plague, or war, or hellfire. Maybe 80 pages total. The rest - 140 pages - was full of random stuff that the author found interesting to write about. Overall, it made me feel that the author really loves England in that time period (which is fine) but chose the book name to be catchy and attractive to potential readers, just so that she car rant about her interest. Plague, war, and hellfire just happen to be in this book and that’s also how they pass by - mindlessly, almost as something in the background. At least, that’s how I experienced it.
If you love 17th century England and don’t mind all the details about people’s lives and random poem quotes, you might also love this book. But if you wanted a detailed description of all three events without “filler” in between, look somewhere else.
If you love 17th century England and don’t mind all the details about people’s lives and random poem quotes, you might also love this book. But if you wanted a detailed description of all three events without “filler” in between, look somewhere else.
February 26, 2017
1666 tells the story of the Great Plague, the second Dutch War and the Great Fire of London through the eyes of the people who were there. It’s a seamless stitching together of perspectives and experiences into one dramatic and coherent story.
Characters recur, some well known, such as Pepys and Rochester and Margaret Cavendish (the subject of another recent book, Margaret the First) others less prominent – traders and preachers and bakers.
The strength of 1666 is its immediacy. You feel like you are there, listening to the cacophony of voices, rummaging through records and contracts and accounts. The flipside of this is that you lose depth. Reading it I did at times feel hungry for something more challenging, analysis rather than description, a stronger sense of the social and economic forces at play. Although I don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the period – most of what I know I’ve absorbed through osmosis and a childhood obsession with Jean Plaidy novels – there wasn’t much here that was new to me.
However, 1666 does tell you a great pacy story. The author makes it seem easy, rather than the mammoth task it must have been. It’s a good overview and starting point if you want to get a flavour of the period and some pointers as to where to find out more.
*
I received a copy of 1666 from the publisher via Bookbridgr.
This review first appeared on my blog https://katevane.wordpress.com
Characters recur, some well known, such as Pepys and Rochester and Margaret Cavendish (the subject of another recent book, Margaret the First) others less prominent – traders and preachers and bakers.
The strength of 1666 is its immediacy. You feel like you are there, listening to the cacophony of voices, rummaging through records and contracts and accounts. The flipside of this is that you lose depth. Reading it I did at times feel hungry for something more challenging, analysis rather than description, a stronger sense of the social and economic forces at play. Although I don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the period – most of what I know I’ve absorbed through osmosis and a childhood obsession with Jean Plaidy novels – there wasn’t much here that was new to me.
However, 1666 does tell you a great pacy story. The author makes it seem easy, rather than the mammoth task it must have been. It’s a good overview and starting point if you want to get a flavour of the period and some pointers as to where to find out more.
*
I received a copy of 1666 from the publisher via Bookbridgr.
This review first appeared on my blog https://katevane.wordpress.com
October 27, 2016
Maybe a 3.5--it could have been more detailed--but this was a good read so I'll round up. In a nutshell, this book is an overview of England in the tumultuous year of 1666, a year of war, plague, and of course the Great Fire of London. Starting with a look at 1665--the worst time for the plague, and also an important time for the Anglo-Dutch Wars--and then moving into the main subject of the book, 1666, the author introduces us to the famous, the rich, and the common people who experienced all the drama that the year threw at them. Care is taken to include women--actresses, noblewomen, spies, playwrights, authors, and printers (publishers), reminding us that while women were not allowed as much freedom as men, there were those who broke boundaries. The rising middle class is also discussed, from artisans to booksellers, as well as those who are famous up to this day, kings and soldiers, scientists and writers. A pertinent theme for today is the way immigrants were treated during and after the Great Fire; society has not changed much in the intervening centuries. 1666 is not a long book, but it's an informative read and covers more than you might expect.
December 5, 2018
An enjoyable read with vivid descriptions of the plague, fire, and naval combat. I especially like the latter as it is a subject rarely covered in histories to this depth. A shame that the author relied as far as I can tell on only English language sources and not Dutch sources.
A nice leavening of great man accounts with ordinary folk accounts, including women. All within the time scope of a single year. Definitely a popular history rather than a dry academic publication.
Minor criticisms:
1. The description of the London fire would be better had there been maps of the various affected districts to accompany the narrative.
2. Same comment for the plague bits. One was never too sure exactly where the plague started and how it spread relative to the population and relative community locales. Modern London is a huge metropolitan area but in 1666, much less so - hence the reader needs a better visualization.
3. And lastly, no maps at all for the Second Anglo Dutch War. Where exactly is Lowestoft? The reader is left to consult external sources. What did the battle lines look like over time?
A nice leavening of great man accounts with ordinary folk accounts, including women. All within the time scope of a single year. Definitely a popular history rather than a dry academic publication.
Minor criticisms:
1. The description of the London fire would be better had there been maps of the various affected districts to accompany the narrative.
2. Same comment for the plague bits. One was never too sure exactly where the plague started and how it spread relative to the population and relative community locales. Modern London is a huge metropolitan area but in 1666, much less so - hence the reader needs a better visualization.
3. And lastly, no maps at all for the Second Anglo Dutch War. Where exactly is Lowestoft? The reader is left to consult external sources. What did the battle lines look like over time?
October 3, 2016
Very interesting, most of what I have previously read about this era focuses (inevitably) on the Fire. This book give a a much broader view I was most interested in the accounts of the sea battles between the Dutch and the English. It is a book for the generalist not an academic book but for all that it is detailed and could provide a spring board for further reading.
April 7, 2025
Very interesting book, well documented.
The writing is really good, with a lot of anecdotes about people people who lived in 1665-1666, which make the text even more "real".
I really enjoyed reading about the sea battles, actually you can almost read it like a novel because of how the author relates it.
Great book.
The writing is really good, with a lot of anecdotes about people people who lived in 1665-1666, which make the text even more "real".
I really enjoyed reading about the sea battles, actually you can almost read it like a novel because of how the author relates it.
Great book.
August 25, 2018
Really enjoyable history book. Dealt with an interesting period, the author did cheat a bit and included some off 1665. The last chapter summarised what happened to the main characters and encouraged you to read more about the period. Informative but easy to read.
January 12, 2018
A brilliantly written book. I hope Rebecca Rideal writes again soon.
April 7, 2021
This was a really interesting read and Rideal has written a great book that presents known events in a new, entertaining way. I really enjoyed this book.
January 5, 2020
Nothing new in this read,but entertaining none the less. Telling of the horrors that beset England over a twelve month period in 1666.
July 12, 2021
What an intellectual yet accessible read - Rebecca Rideal has done an wonderful job!
This intense and frightening story that started with a little flea then details how thousands died in the squalid and disgusting street of the restoration period, the war with the Dutch that crippled the country financially and to end off this torrid time - the fire that destroyed most of the medieval city of London. But the silver lining I suppose is we wouldn't have the palatial city of London we have today if the fire didn't gut out all the old buildings. People also surmise that the fire was started to kill the plague out the city but that sounds like a movie script.
Also enjoyed reading about streets of the square mile that I know so well in the City of London today as that's where I work. Truly fascinating book and if you are a history nerd like me then def put this on your TBR
This intense and frightening story that started with a little flea then details how thousands died in the squalid and disgusting street of the restoration period, the war with the Dutch that crippled the country financially and to end off this torrid time - the fire that destroyed most of the medieval city of London. But the silver lining I suppose is we wouldn't have the palatial city of London we have today if the fire didn't gut out all the old buildings. People also surmise that the fire was started to kill the plague out the city but that sounds like a movie script.
Also enjoyed reading about streets of the square mile that I know so well in the City of London today as that's where I work. Truly fascinating book and if you are a history nerd like me then def put this on your TBR
June 2, 2020
Interesting read. It covered the plague and how it was dealt with including implementing "pest houses" where they would send everyone that had the plague and the fact that when the rich left the cities most of the Doctors went with them. So that left the people who weren't well off to deal with this largely on their own.
It also covered the war between England and Holland and the massive London fire of the time. The author did a good job of presenting the historical facts while still making it interesting. There were times when I thought it droned on a bit (thus the 3 star rating) but some of the other areas were interesting enough to make it worth a read.
It also covered the war between England and Holland and the massive London fire of the time. The author did a good job of presenting the historical facts while still making it interesting. There were times when I thought it droned on a bit (thus the 3 star rating) but some of the other areas were interesting enough to make it worth a read.
May 14, 2022
My review is based largely on personal preference and circumstance rather than the merit of the writing, which was excellent! I found I struggled with the military history sections, although again credit to Rideal for writing the most readable passages on military history I have ever read! I found this a challenge to read in a time of plague and war and had I read it three years ago would have found it an enjoyable romp into the past. Be careful what you read and when, I suppose!
January 26, 2023
I'm not super interested in military history, the 'hellfire' and 'plague' elements of this book are what brought me here. But the writing is solid and captivating enough that I enjoyed it in its entirety.
Also, being able to invoke real feelings of anxiety in the reader while relaying events that occurred over 350 years ago, is no small feat, but Rebecca Rideal manages to do just that.
Also, being able to invoke real feelings of anxiety in the reader while relaying events that occurred over 350 years ago, is no small feat, but Rebecca Rideal manages to do just that.
April 29, 2020
This is a delightful read - and how often is that said about books on war, plague, and fire? Rideal writes with enough verve to keep the account moving forward but without becoming silly or melodramatic. The year 1666 was an explosion in many directions at once, and a crux in which modern London was born, and Rideal sees the developments at many levels - rich, poor, men, women, economic, cultural, and so on. She is especially skilled at recounting the sea battles between the English and Dutch.
July 12, 2021
Blimey, what a year!
The events of 1666 are so often reduced to ‘just’ the fire of London, but put into its proper context you can feel the full horror and sorrow of that year. The level of detail in this book is incredible.
The events of 1666 are so often reduced to ‘just’ the fire of London, but put into its proper context you can feel the full horror and sorrow of that year. The level of detail in this book is incredible.
December 22, 2021
In '1666' brengt de schrijfster ons mee doorheen het dagelijkse leven van Londen van zowel de gewone man als de admiraal, de bisschop, de koning. Gedurende twee jaar, zowel 1665 als het rampjaar 1666 waarin letterlijk alles tegenstak, duikt men in het leven van de zeventiende-eeuwer die op een erg gedetailleerde wijze wordt weergegeven, mogelijk een beetje té. Zeker de moeite waard een kans te geven.
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