The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652

Modern Wars in Perspective

by Ian Gentles

This book will capture the imaginations of anyone fascinated by Charles I and Oliver Cromwell.

Appeals to a broad spectrum of people with an interest in the ever popular arena of military history The first serious attempt to arrive at global estimates of the human and economic costs of the wars Thoroughly explores spiritual questions such as morale, combat motivation and the role of religion

Genres: History, War

522 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Dr. Ian Gentles is Professor of History at Tyndale University College in Toronto, Ontario. He received his BA and MA from the University of Toronto and his Ph.D from University of London, England. He specializes in British history from 1500-1800 and early Christian history. Apart from authoring four books, such as: Oliver Cromwell: God’s Warrior and the English Revolution (2011). He is also the Research Director of the De Veber Institute of Bioethics and has published on topics such as abortion and euthanasia. As well, he is a member of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better books on the topic, Prof, Gentles combines background and narrative for a comprehensive and readable account of this violent era of British and Irish history. By surveying the background of the various topics at the beginning of each chapter, Gentle allows the reader to have all the necessary information to understand the issues that caused and lead to the outcomes of the revolution and various wars. The military narrative is not neglected and every campaign and battle is covered, although social and political topics are also dealt with. The maps are adequate. If ya gotta read just one book on the topic, make it this one.

[Carl Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex dynamics that precipitated and shaped several overlapping wars between Scotland, England, and Ireland during the period of 1639-1652 that eventually concluded with the execution of Charles I and the establishment of the Protectorate under Cromwell and England's subjugation of Scotland and Ireland.

The thread is not easy to follow as it jumps from theater to theater (and sometimes backward and forward in time) while examining how Social-Political-Economic factors, conflicting Royalist-Catholic-Puritan concerns, and Strategic-Logistical-Meteorological considerations drove actions and shaped outcomes.

The reader (this reader at any rate) is left with the impression that history is an inscrutable jumble of passions, madness, and death that play out under the indifferent heavens above.