Fire from Heaven: Life in an English Town in the Seventeenth Century

by David Underdown

Dorchester―the west-country town immortalized by Thomas Hardy as Casterbridge―was two hundred years before Hardy's time the most fervently religious town in England. The catalyst that turned a provincial backwater into a "godly community" was a great fire in 1613 that devastated much of the town and enabled the new pastor, John White, to lead the town in a kind of spiritual mass conversion that lasted for fifty years. In this book David Underdown describes the transformation of Dorchester, placing it in the context of national events (the English Civil War, Cromwell's rule, and the restoration of the monarchy) and events across the sea (the settling of similar godly communities in New England). Portraying the everyday lives of the townspeople―both the high-minded reformers and the boisterous characters they attempted to reform―Underdown recreates a seventeenth-century English town in all its vitality and richness.

Underdown describes how Dorchester became a community with advanced systems of charitable giving, education, and assistance for the sick and needy. He paints a picture of Dorchester Matthew Chubb, chief representative of the jovial, paternalist town oligarchy that preceded the Puritans; Chubb's friend Roger Pouncey, "godfather to the unruly and unregenerate of the town"; diarist William Whiteway, one of a group of Puritans who earnestly tried to reform their neighbors; and many other less gentrified men and women who spent their leisure time drinking and swearing, fornicating and repenting, striving to live up to the new ideals of their community or rejecting them with bitter anger and mocking laughter. Underdown's subtle and witty exploration of these characters and events casts a refreshing new light on a bygone era.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, 17th Century, College

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Haydn Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Underdown and Fire from Heaven sees David writing at his absolute best. I loved this book in the way it flowed with individual stories. I have spent many an hour in Dorchester doing my own research into the English Civil Wars of the 17th Century. This book sets the visual and tone as one living there through the wars and reads like a novel. From now on I will be seeing this Dorset town with David's words in my thoughts. Wonderful writing.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really interesting. I learned a lot from it about the period in general and the different perspectives on religion and society then, as well as about this town in particular.

[Dave Annal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic example of how to write history through the lives of ordinary people rather than focusing on ‘the great and the good’.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most books on the Puritans treat them as heroes or villains. Underdown does a good job of showing their strengths and weaknesses. And because they were an intense and devoted people, their strengths and weaknesses will show in stark relief.

On the good side, for example, they were very charitable, and did a lot for poor relief in regard to hospitals, education, job training, etc.

On the bad (among other things) their notion of being quiet, sober, and productive led some to be fined seemingly for the offense of being too loud in general.

Where the book falls short is trying to find a way to link their strengths and weaknesses. The book also does not explore how the Puritans compare to other Christian societies, communities, movements, etc. To be fair, the author does not claim to do this, but I would like to find a book that attempted it.

[Lesley Lodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating piece of history: 1613: much of Dorchester burns down. The residents see this as a sign from God and actually change their ways for the better, becoming much more helpful to each other and setting up what are essentially forward thinking welfare and education frameworks. The fire itself is described with as much historical accuracy as was possible from the surviving records but the event is also brought to life It was daytime and most people were out harvesting and so the flames took hold. There were desperate attempts (with very limited water) to extinguish it.

I found the second half of the book a little repetitive and it takes us several decades on. Be warned, there is also an cruel execution of a priest graphically described. I recommend this book if you're interested in the period and in the thinking that became background to the English Civil War.

[Joe Doak · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Underdown ends his historical analysis of 17th century Dorchester by stating, “The sources are not perfect, but I hope that this book has shown that it is possible to reconstruct some of the life of a seventeenth century community even in less than ideal circumstances.”

I would agree with him. He has painted a relatively detailed and well-researched ‘story’ that gets under the skin of a ‘godly project’ to ‘cleanse’ the town during one of the most traumatic and dynamic periods of English history. There are weaknesses (e.g. repetition of information and underdeveloped description of main characters) but overall the book provides a fascinating study of the actors and forces that shaped the political, religious, cultural, economic and moral trajectory of a rather untypical part of the country before, during and after the English Revolution.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A close-up look at a small English town before, during, and after the Civil War---did it change anything? How much did national politics and armed strife really matter to the average English villager? I found this book a fascinating look at history "from below," even though I have to wonder if the Civil War really left so little lasting traces.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting overview on Dorchester puritanism. The book has relatively little to do with the fire, despite what the title might suggest. Paints a fairly detailed picture of just about everyone mentioned in the existing sources from the town, which is both good but occasionally seems a bit much. Pretty balanced, considering how controversial the puritans were.

[Arjun Mishra · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some very points to take away from this, but it is a very boring and dragging read. The social history is excellent and interesting; the experience of reading it is rather painful.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

British History part 1

[Michelle Chamberlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had some interesting parts but a lot of it was very repetitive. I also feel that it contained to many names in some parts to where it got confusing

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great micro history and examination of the Puritan influence on Dorchester, England.