A king beheaded. A monarchy abolished. And a commoner leading a republic by military rule set in their place. The wars that tore through the country in the mid-seventeenth century â splitting government, communities and families alike â were a true watershed in English history. But how, with Queen Elizabeth Iâs Golden Age still in living memory, did such a situation arise?
Exploring the periodâs political disputes, religious conflicts and military battles, Patrick Little scrutinizes the nature and practicalities of conducting a civil war on English soil, as well as the experiences and motivations of key factions and combatants. By assessing how the realities of life in England shaped the conflict âand were torn apart by it â this wonderfully readable Beginnerâs Guide gets to the very heart of how a people came to kill their king.