The Fall of the British Monarchies 1637-1642

'Monumental in scale, iconoclastic and yet carefully constructive in offering alternative interpretations, and brilliantly orchestrated in its presentation, Russell's book must surely rank as one of the greatest landmarks in the 20th century historiography of this period.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'a monumental achievement...written with grace, elegance, and wit, as well as an organizaional power and a literary skill that carry the reader effortlessly through' John Kenyon, Journal of Modern History 'superbly researched book which is certain to become the standard modern account of the events that led to the outbreak of the English Civil War... a very impressive book by the foremost living scholar of early Stuart political history' Johann P Sommerville, Renaissance Quarterly 'it is the measure of Russell's achievement that he has produced a series of studies that can at last be placed beside the Victorian edifice of Samuel Rawson Gardner. Russell's vision is now the orthodoxy of our age' Jonathan Clark, The Times 'develops his whole case with great learning, a profound understanding of historical evidence and its limitations, an urbane style and an attractive underlying sense of irony, reaching an almost irresistible persuasive force...among the most remarkable achievements in re-writing the history of the seventeenth century for many years past' Gerald Aylmer, English Historical Review 'a major and impressive reinterpretation of the collapse of the early Stuart polity' Derek Hirst, Times Literary Supplement 'an endlessly stimulatin and thought-provoking book, to which scholars in the field will turn repeatedly for its insights' Albion 'gives one more to think about than any of the scores of books on the subject' A L Rowse, Financial Times 'stimulating and provocative, brilliant and problematic by turns...no one interested in the history of the English Civil War, in the shape of British history more broadly construed...can afford to ignore this work' Journal of Iterdisciplinary History 'provide excellent potential topics for debate, discussion, and presentations ... a highly detailed account of events stretching from the revolt against the Scottish Prayer book in 1637, through the Bishops Wars.' Andrew D. Nicholls, University of Guelph, inal Art: May 1994