The Restless Republic

My spread and speed of reading books has declined in recent years. I have been more selective in reading around my interests.

A good example are the various books I have discovered covering the European wars of 1848/49 and 1859/60.

Out of the blue when I was in Fowey in the local bookshop I noticed a book about the english civil wars. Or rather it was a book about the British Isles – Ireland, Scotland and England.

This is not just another book about the wars of the mid seventeenth century, that afflicted the whole archipelago.

It starts with Charles I losing his head and ends with the restoration. Thats the eleven years which military history tends to skip along with the fifteen leading up to the Monmouth rebellion in 1685 – soon followed by the Glorious Revolution.

The book in question is not the usual chronological journey. It does get you from 1649 to 1660. Time jumps about in the process.

The main structure is aimed squarely at a series of characters who have their own individual stories, contribute to the timeline and in a very neat way interweave their stories. That last achievement is the author’s. The background effort to realise this construction must be significant.

Now the important bit. This book is steeped in knowledge and detail yet the author has stripped that all down so you have an easy read.

I read this book in about five chunks over a month. Which is saying something for me – extensive reading sessions have not been my style.

I got into this book easily and it kept me page turning in a way I have not for a long time.

I read about a period that had not previously attracted me, I was thoroughly involved in the author’s chosen journey and I really enjoyed it.