This is THE essential title for any student studying the Early Modern British period. Informative, descriptive and passionatly imaginative this book brings together the threads of some of the greatest historians throughout the age (e.g. Clarendon) and intertwines them into something unique, bold and pioneering. Leading the thrust in revisionism Russell aproaches his work with a 'through' analysis of events (one even Wentworth would admire!). The way in which he combines facts, figures and enthusiastic description is one to be admired and one, as a devoted A-Level History student, I was eternally indebted to and grateful for.

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.

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.