By Jove, it was a damned hard slog but with enormous fortitude I got there in the end! Yes, indeed, I finished John Adamson's superb history of the events leading up to the English civil war called, with a suitable quibble on the word "noble", The Noble Revolt. I hasten to add, that it was definitely not Mr. Adamson's pellucid prose that made it hard going, it was just that with 740 pages it was a bloody heavy lift! I worked out that the best way to read it was to rest the book on a cushion which rested on my 'tum' and against my raised leg resting on a foot-stool. Also, the fact that I could do some simple arm exercises with it made me feel better about myself!
There is no way I can condense this book despite the fact that it is only mainly concerned with the years 1640 to 1642. It reads almost like the sort of thing you read in The Telegraph today under the general heading of 'Today in Parliament'. Each day, each week, each month, the various 'actors' entered, delivered their lines and then made their exits. Gradually, inexorably (or so it looks in retrospect) those damned "events, dear boy, events" played themselves out to the tragic conclusion - war!
What is so fascinating is that in all this turmoil, this maelstrom of mixed motives, you begin to see the development of parliamentary rule which would, eventually, become a global litmus test for proper governance. Of course, nothing stands still, back then the 'nobles' overcame the king but eventually the commons overcame the nobles and today, in "this scepter'd Isle", we now have all three still existing, more or less amicably, side by side.
It's a terrific story - but my advice is to buy it in Kindle form - so much lighter!
Well, it seems to me that WE, your adoring public, do not need to wade through this mighty tome, since you've done it for us.
If anything comes up pertaining to these events, all we have to do is contact you and Bob will be our uncle.
Many thanks for your tireless efforts on our behalf.
I'm sure we all appreciate it.
Posted by: Andra | Friday, 29 April 2016 at 19:51
May I assume, Andra, that the cheque is in the post?
Oh, take that as a 'no', shall I?
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 29 April 2016 at 21:39
Must have got caught up with all those cheques you have been sending me for all the bloody jokes I provide.
Posted by: Andra | Saturday, 30 April 2016 at 07:22
Are you hinting that they have not yet arrived? I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked! I *personally* put them on a slow boat to China, oooops, just remembered, you live in Australia, silly me!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 30 April 2016 at 08:08
Interesting. One of the most dramatic moments in English history, I always feel, is when Charles went to arrest the Parliamentarians but they had been tipped off. I see my birds are flown said the disconsolate Charles. At that point it was had he but known it all over for him. I think that was the time the Speaker made his famous remark that defined the role of the Speaker ever since. I believe you recommended The Peacemakers, David, by Margaret MacMillan, which I bought and read and thoroughly enjoyed. So thanks for that.
Posted by: mike fowle | Saturday, 30 April 2016 at 13:14
I finished 'The Noble Revolt' about a week ago; it's every bit as good as you say. It helped that I'd read C. V. Wedgewood's 'The King's Peace' and 'The King's War' first. Events are painted with a much more broader brush, and her books gave me a good idea of what was going on when I came to read Mr. Adamson.
You've given us some excellent tips on books, Duffers, and to return the compliment try 'About Face!' by Lt.Colonel David H. Hackworth, late of the US Army. He had a most remarkable military career, serving in the ranks through the Berlin Airlift, Korea, and was promoted officer during the Vietnam War.
Available on Amazon, used, for a bout a fiver. (I got mine for a penny plus postage, of course!)
Posted by: Oswald Thake | Saturday, 30 April 2016 at 13:20
Thank you both, Gentlemen, and I'm glad to have been of service. Part of the reason it took me so long to read Adamson's book, apart from the effort of actually picking it up, was that I was simultaneously reading "The English Civil Wars" by Blair Worden which, covering 20-odd years rather than three, is not quite so day-to-day detailed but provides an excellent overview.
I checked out the late Col. Hackworth and he sounds like a superb infantry officer. He will go on my 'waiting to buy' list!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 30 April 2016 at 13:51