Books
The Final Crisis of the Stuart Monarchy: The Revolutions
of 1688-91 in their British, Atlantic and European Contexts
Tim Harris and Stephen Taylor (Boydell Press)
Boydell Press have kindly provided me with a review copy of
this beautifully produced volume. According to the publisher, the collection
sheds new light on the final crisis of the Stuart monarchy by re-examining the
causes and consequences of the dynastic change of 1688-89 from broad
chronological, intellectual and geographical perspectives.
The book brings together eleven essays by leading
specialists in the field. Covering developments from the Restoration through to
the mid-eighteenth century, it explores not only political and religious
history but also the history of ideas. Its scope extends beyond England to
include Scotland, Ireland, and the wider Atlantic and European worlds.
The Road Not Taken: How Britain Narrowly Missed a
Revolution, 1381-1926
Frank McLynn
As I haven't read the book yet, I cannot offer a detailed
assessment. However, from what I have seen, McLynn seems to follow several
recent revisionist historians who are reluctant to classify the English
Revolution as a revolution in the traditional sense.
Exquisite Mixture: The Virtues of Impurity in Early
Modern England
Wolfram Schmidgen
Pat Rogers has reviewed this book in the Times Literary
Supplement.
Books Recently Purchased
The Crisis of Theory: E.P. Thompson, the New Left and
Postwar Politics
Scott Hamilton
I am currently working on a review of this book,
particularly in light of the anniversary of Thompson's The Making of the
English Working Class.
In Contempt of All Authority
B. Sharp
Breviary Stuff Publications have kindly sent me a review
copy. A review should appear on the blog soon.
Hobsbawm on History
Eric Hobsbawm
Another welcome addition to the ever-growing reading pile.
Internet News
Daniel Reed has made his undergraduate dissertation,
submitted in 2007-08, available on Academia.edu. The study examines Sir John
Hotham's life and political career during the English Revolution.
The History of Parliament blog has published an
interesting article on Marriage in the English Revolution, well worth
reading for those interested in the period's social history.
DVD
A Field in England
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Set during the English Civil War, A Field in England follows
a group of deserters who fall under the influence of a mysterious thief as they
search for buried treasure. What begins as a historical drama quickly develops
into something far stranger, as hallucinogenic mushrooms transform both the
journey and the characters' perceptions.
The film is an audacious, highly original piece of British
cinema: darkly comic, visually striking, and frequently unpredictable. At its
best, it is genuinely brilliant. The DVD release also includes a substantial
selection of special features.
Libraries
A dispute over reading-room etiquette and regulations has
recently disrupted the British Library's usually tranquil atmosphere. The
resulting debate has attracted considerable media attention and raises
interesting questions about balancing scholarly research with public
access.
Obituary
Professor Robert Ashton: Historian of Early Modern
England
An obituary of Professor Robert Ashton recently appeared in The
Independent. Although Ashton passed away earlier this year, surprisingly
little attention has been paid to his death within the historical profession.
As one of the most important historians of seventeenth-century England, he
deserves a far more substantial assessment of his life and work. I hope to
contribute a brief tribute on this blog soon.
