Stuart England

By Angus Stroud

Book Overview

UK

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415206537
• ISBN13: 9780415206532
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.9" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to the political, religious and social history of 17th century England

In just over 200 pages, Angus Stroud provides a wealth of information about Stuart England. This book aims to provide a student with knowledge of the issues and personalities of the times and an understanding of the different perspectives that historians bring to their analyses. Originally, I picked this book up to assess how well it might provide a general overview of Stuart times for someone unfamiliar with the history. I quickly found myself refreshing my knowledge of Charles I's personal rule (1629 to 1640) and reacquainting myself with details of the political conflict between 1640 and 1642. I read through the account of the Civil Wars (1642 to 1646), the search for a settlement and the Republic (1649 to 1660). The facts are presented with sufficient detail for those readers who are seeking an overview but also include source material and references for either informal study or part of more structured coursework. The 17th century in England was a time of significant internal turmoil and conflict. While much of this conflict was a consequence of religion, structural issues caused by the financial structure inherited from Elizabeth I were significant contributing factors. Mr Stroud has written a text that is comprehensive without being confusing and which invites the reader to consider a variety of contributing causal events. Highly recommended. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

If "Stuart England" should prove to be the pinnacle...

The 17th. Century is a sea regularly trawled by authors-cum-historians, but in Angus Stroud, we have a talented historian, who clearly has an in-depth and encyclopaedic knowledge of the period."Stuart England" places Stroud amongst some of the great of 17th. Century historians. He writes without the muddle and confusion of Macaulay, the melodrama or gimmickry of Kishlanski, or the sometimes-unnecessary detail of Dame Veronica Wedgwood. Stroud has demonstratively dedicated much time and attention to the investigation and evaluation of primary evidence, as well as to different interpretations of the period. In light of this, his clarity of thought, and the originality of his selection of rarely considered documents, must be seen as nothing but a virtue.He [Stroud] takes us from 1600, through the Civil Wars and Glorious Revolution; to 1701. Usefully, he contexualizes "Stuart England", by outlining the key events of the end of the Elizabethan age, and includes a chapter on the Thirty Years War/European Context. His incisive wit and concise writing style make this section far more valuable than the comparable chapter in Kishlanski's "A Monarchy Transformed".At times it seems that he is reluctant to enter into a detailed discourse on the individual battles of the Civil War; preferring instead, to comment on the reasons for victory/defeat, rather than military strategy. The pictures that he has selected are exemplary of the points that they illustrate, and the maps showing the changing situation are cleverly conceived.Intended primarily as a classroom textbook, aimed at the 6th. Form; Stroud has included questions in the chapters. However, more experienced historians and lay readers need not be deterred by their inclusion, as they are as probing as they are challenging.If "Stuart England" should prove to be the pinnacle of Stroud's writing career, he has achieved a glory, which would be proudly borne by any king or Godly man.

Strong work by stroud

Perhaps the most definitive work on Stuart England I've ever read, Stroud has many fresh new insights about this important period in English history. A must read.