Battles of the English Civil War: Marston Moor, Naseby, Preston

by Austin Woolrych

"An excellent book...It most skillfully indicates all the essential connections between the Civil War's political, social, and military aspects."--C.V. Wedgwood, Daily Telegraph. "Excellent use of eye-witness material."--The Times Educational Supplement. Although the battles of the English Civil War were relatively small--only one involved as many as 20,000 men on either side--they involved the greatest of issues and are rich with human interest. These masterly studies of three major clashes provide detailed background, and military developments are painstakingly recounted. Even more important, the political and religious concerns receive every bit as much attention.

Genres: History, Military History, English Civil War

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Mike O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

An overview book on the English Civil War(s), 1st and 2nd, with a lot of detail on the causes, mainly Charles I being a pure autocrat with an inability to honor his word versus a Parliament with both religious differences from Charles and a desire to place limits on their monarch.

The book lacks adequate maps for someone not familiar with English geography, adequate maps of the battlefields, and good orders of battle for the battles it covers. It’s useful as a starting point.

[Craig Hipkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great attention to detail.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fancied reading more about the civil war. I wanted accessible and exciting, full of interesting vignettes and interesting facts. There's a tiny bit of that. More often it tells the story of the battles in a less compelling fashion, sometimes using lingo that--as a non-expert in the civil war--I struggled to follow. (Pro tip: Make clearer whose side everyone is on! Needs more sign posting; merely saying pages earlier that so-and-so was a royalist doesn't mean I'll remember it twenty pages later.)

[Heinz Reinhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Austin Woolrych has written a solid, concise, yet detailed volume on the English Civil War. After introducing the varying factors for the rending of the country into Royalist and Parliamentary factions, Woolrych gets right into the military aspects of the war.
His basic thesis is that, despite controlling, initially, the central strategic position, King Charles failed to formulate a coherent working strategic direction. His forces tended to lack proper coordination with each other, and the King's mind would change far too frequently on what his ultimate aims were.
This chaotic direction from the top, as compared to the more steady, determined, leadership of the Parliamentary forces, more so than the New Model Army, would lead to their eventual victory.
The descriptions of the Battles of Marston Moor, Naseby, and Preston are well done. And while Woolrych only describes these three engagements, he sets them within the wider context of the war, and uses them as show pieces by which he can detail the war's ultimate progression.
He seemed quite fair in his treatment of both sides, though it's quite clear that he has little regard for King Charles as a military leader.
Overall, while long out of print here in the States, this is a serviceable, slim, yet worthy, single volume study on the English Civil War.
Definitely recommended.

[John Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, very accessible, perfect introduction for English Civil War. "Tells" the story through 3 major battles: Marston Moor, Naseby and Preston. Great for Military types.... and wargamers ;o)