Synopses & Reviews
Heeding the call of England's ruling class, the Dutch Prince William of Orange landed with a massive invasion force and within six weeks expelled the Catholic King James II in 1688. In what was largely heralded as a bloodless revolution, William and his English wife Mary, James II's Protestant daughter, were crowned joint monarchs, accepting the Declaration of Rights that affirmed Parliament's ancient rights. It was a turning point in Britain's march toward universal suffrage and liberties. But as acclaimed historian Edward Vallance reveals, the Glorious Revolution was characterized by warfare and bloody massacre (especially for Catholics and Irishmen), affected the rights of the common man in ways traditional histories have ignored, and engaged the British populace in the affairs of government as never before. A thriller-paced book--rich in seventeenth-century first-person accounts of the bloodshed and political machinations of the period--that turns every debate about this great historical event on its head.
Review
"Gripping . . . [Vallance] writes with considerable narrative flair . . . a tremendously exciting introduction to the period." Daily Telegraph
Review
"Lucid and perceptive." Blair Worden
Review
"An account that is balanced without being anodyne, wide-ranging without being superficial, assured without being complacent . . . An up-to-date and well informed narrative." Literary Review
Synopsis
A radical and illuminating account of Britain's bloodless revolution of 1688.
1688: Heeding the call of England's ruling class, the Dutch Prince William of Orange landed with a massive invasion force and within six weeks expelled the Catholic King James II. In what was heralded as a peaceful coup d'etat, William and his English wife Mary, James II's Protestant daughter, were crowned joint monarchs to rule alongside Parliament.
But as acclaimed historian Edward Vallance reveals in a narrative that makes history come alive, the Glorious Revolution was indeed characterized by warfare and bloody massacre (especially for Catholics and Irishmen) and engaged the British populace in the affairs of government as never before. A thriller-paced book--rich in seventeenth-century first-person accounts of the bloodshed and political machinations of the period--Edward Vallance's The Glorious Revolution at last reveals the true story behind these momentous events that would forever change modern government.
Synopsis
"A swashbuckling re-examination of a forgotten moment in British history by a richly talented young historian."--
About the Author
Edward Vallance completed his BA and Ph.D. at Balliol College, Oxford. From 2000 to 2002 he was the De Velling Willis Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield. He is now a lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Liverpool.