Marston Moor: English Civil War - July 1644

by David Clark

Following on from the success of the first book in this series on the English Civil war, Naseby, here is the story of Marston Moor, arguably the most famous battle in the four year conflict.

In this exciting analysis of the battle the Author has captured the atmosphere and made it possible to get the most out of the experience. Marston Moor was an extremely bitter and costly battle and a defeat for the Royalist cause that had major implications for King Charles I. One result was that the key city of York was lost thereby seriously weakening the King's grip on the North.

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

David Clark is a senior tutor working within HM Prison Service and has been a professor of history for more than 30 years.

Reviews

[Pete daPixie]

Another Pen & Sword book, the third one I've read in this series. All these books are excellent for visiting the battle sites. As there were many skirmishes in various places, prior to the big day (July 2nd 1644)on Marston Moor, these sites are also included.
Fortunately, we don't have to say, "I remember when this was all fields",because Marston Moor is little changed from the seventeenth century vistas. So, David Clark's battle site tour is a pleasant walk in the country. By day. At night there be many spectres, goulies and ghosts of Roundheads and Cavaliers that haunt this area still.
Of the thousands killed in this Civil War encounter, I was sad to learn of Prince Rupert's poodle Buoy, who although tied to a tree, got free to chase after his master and was treated like any other Royalist.

[Eric]

This is an account of the events leading up to the Battle of Marston Moor, the battle itself, and its aftermath. As such it has a very specific audience. Its written for military history geeks & as I have leanings in that direction I enjoyed it. If you don't have leanings in that direction I would avoid reading this book. Its also a tour book as it has a rather large section devoted various tours of the sites one could take should one happen to be in or near York. If I was in York instead of Phoenix I'd have the next couple of weekends planned. There was also a puzzling section on unexplained phenomena (ghosts, etc...) associated with the battlefield.

[Anton Tomsinov]

This book gives a decent account of Marston Moor, but not as good as David Cooke’s book. The problem is that few of battlefield decisions get sufficient explanation. Analysis is sine qua non of books devoted to single battles. Otherwise they turn into pointless narrative without meaning. But I liked how the author punched groundless myth of Cromwell’s generalship in the First Civil War.