The Causes of the English Civil War: The Ford Lectures Delivered in the University of Oxford, 1987-1988 (Ford Lectures)

Rating:
Summary: Clear, concise, thorough
Review: This is easily the best book I've ever read on the immediate circumstances of the English Civil War. Russell has proven himself consistently to be a brilliant Civil War scholar, and doesn't fail to do so here. In this slim volume, he ties together the unrest in all three kingdoms of Great Britain, religious conflicts and ambitions, the character of Charles I, and royalist and parliamentary ideals to explain the Civil War in its immediate context. Although he goes as far back as the Reformation to establish some long-term background, Russell pretty much concentrates on the events of 1642. Combine this with his Fall of the British Monarchies (a larger, more expansive, and ultimately much less readable book) and you have a pretty good coverage of all the angles in explaining the Civil War.

Rating:
Summary: Clear, concise, thorough
Review: This is easily the best book I've ever read on the immediate circumstances of the English Civil War. Russell has proven himself consistently to be a brilliant Civil War scholar, and doesn't fail to do so here. In this slim volume, he ties together the unrest in all three kingdoms of Great Britain, religious conflicts and ambitions, the character of Charles I, and royalist and parliamentary ideals to explain the Civil War in its immediate context. Although he goes as far back as the Reformation to establish some long-term background, Russell pretty much concentrates on the events of 1642. Combine this with his Fall of the British Monarchies (a larger, more expansive, and ultimately much less readable book) and you have a pretty good coverage of all the angles in explaining the Civil War.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent book...but torture for a college student
Review: You need to be familiar with the names, dates, places, etc of the English Civil War before you try to read this. Russell's "Multiple Kingdom" thesis is good, but he seems to overlook population and economic causes -I don't know for sure because I may have slept through those pages...not that I SHOULD have slept though them of course! It would have been a much more engaging book if I loved the English Civil War with all my heart.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent book...but torture for a college student
Review: You need to be familiar with the names, dates, places, etc of the English Civil War before you try to read this. Russell's "Multiple Kingdom" thesis is good, but he seems to overlook population and economic causes -I don't know for sure because I may have slept through those pages...not that I SHOULD have slept though them of course! It would have been a much more engaging book if I loved the English Civil War with all my heart.