Review: The Time Traveller’s Guide to Restoration Britain, by Ian Mortimer

This is the third Time Traveller’s Guide that Ian Mortimer has written, the previous two being of Medieval and then Elizabethan England. They’re completely self-contained, but I thought it worth mentioning in case anyone reading this preferred to get them in chronological order.

The Time Traveller’s Guide to Restoration Britain is a sort of everyday history, relating the habits of people high and low through the latter half the 17^th century, when the monarchy was restored after the censorious puritanism of Cromwell’s reign. Innovations and advancement are everywhere, as Newton, Purcell, and Wren set to work furthering the boundaries of science, music, and architecture (the latter ‘aided’ by the Great Fire of London in 1666).

It is in this period that superstition really buckles beneath the weight of science, or starts to, at least. Speech becomes freer as newspapers spring up and a short-lived attempt at regulation ends, enabling a free press (which has continued to this day). Literacy rises, transport is improved with flying coaches and the impressively swift postal service. The plague sees its last occurrence on British shores, doctors soar in number, and women begin to break into art, acting, and other fields.

But it also sees terrible fires, the coldest winter ever, political turmoil when James II is deposed, the ongoing battle between puritans and those who preferred a freer society and many attitudes we would consider horrendous today (a love of cockfighting, religious segregation, kidnapping people for enforced servitude on ships/in colonies etc).

Ian Mortimer tells of life from the very richest to the very poorest, what people ate, how they lived, what work they did, and how the country changed so dramatically from the austere reign of Cromwell to the flamboyant Charles II (and his successors). It’s engaging and places you in the boots of the 17^th people he describes.

This did throw up an interesting question. Until quite recently I didn’t give books specific ratings (on a personal level, I dislike them because a small problem for one reader is a deal-breaker for another, but do appreciate that others find such things useful). How to define a five star book? Something nigh on perfect? Something that’s 81% or better?

Regardless, I believe this excellent book, full of interesting snippets of information and insightful commentary, to be a five star book.

Thaddeus

Review: The Fears of Henry IV, by Ian Mortimer

I have to admit, I knew practically nothing of Henry IV, having not even read any of the relevant Shakespeare plays. However, I have read the same author’s biography of Edward III (review here) which helps put together the situation in which Henry IV (and his cousin and predecessor Richard II) found himself.

The dual nature of the early half of the book, with Henry’s actions practically defined in contrast and reaction to those of the vindictive and insecure Richard, was very engaging to read. Both men were intelligent and almost the exact same age, but their characters were utterly different (Henry was luckier than Richard in knowing his father well, whereas Richard’s died when he was young). Both struggled with the looming shadow of Edward III’s long and (mostly) glorious reign, being grandsons of the aforementioned king.

Not unlike a biography of William Marshal, the rollercoaster of Henry’s life is fascinating to read purely on its own merits. Ian Mortimer does a good job putting things into context where necessary, and letting the drama speak for itself.

Whilst Richard was sly, Henry was devout and personally brave. He was also bloody unlucky on numerous occasions, and his early reign damaged by naivety, the consequences of which took some time to overcome. He was, however, decisive and committed, which helped to stave off the worst effects of his frequent misfortune.

There are numerous interesting questions about Henry and how he ought to be viewed. As well as his unorthodox manner of arriving at the throne, he executed an archbishop, and generally struggled with money, which then hampered his efforts to fight the Scots/Welsh/French.

It’s a life well told, packed with political scheming and rivalry, family feuds and numerous rebellions. It’s very good, and would work well with (either before or after, as you like) the same author’s aforementioned Edward III biography.

Thaddeus

Review: The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England, by Ian Mortimer

I got this after being rather taken with a similar book about Medieval England, by the same author (reviewed here).

It’s history, Jim, but not as we know it. As with the aforementioned book, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England adopts a present tense approach to the past. It can seem a little odd, especially at first, but the style fits a history that’s almost a guided tour of everyday life. Entertainment, food, the weird way that chimneys and glass revolutionise housing and the persistent social divides of the class system abound.

However, it’s the area of religion which marks this era as most alien. In certain ways, contrary to the common assumption that things tend to improve over time, the 16^th century seems crueller than those before, perhaps due to a combination of bitter religious rivalry and the uncertain nature of what might come after Elizabeth.

On Queen Elizabeth herself, there are frequent references (and even some poetry written by her). These range from the personal to the politico-religious, as she enforces her will and dominates the political scene during a time of great change. It is not a biography or anything approaching that, however [nor does it seek to be].

The writing is detailed and immersive without being difficult (this isn’t my sort of era usually so I thought I might feel like a fish out of water, but this wasn’t the case). As is common with such books, there are two sets of glossy pages with photographs relating to the time [I checked some reviews on Amazon, and apparently these do not show up well on the Kindle version].

As with the Medieval version (although more so) I did skim the lists (often regarding the price of various goods). Here and there sections seemed a little long, although it’s to be expected that with a general tour approach to history some bits will engage a certain reader more than others.

Overall, an easy to read history that occasionally overdoes the detail but generally gets the balance of depth and brevity right.

Thaddeus

Review: The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, by Ian Mortimer

Sir Roger Mortimer is not a name that necessarily leaps to the lips when thinking of English history. However, he was a very interesting character, and Ian Mortimer’s biography (the only one, it seems, of the subject) paints an intriguing picture.

During his life Roger Mortimer made war in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and played a critical role wresting Ireland from Edward Bruce (the younger brother of Robert Bruce), the only Scottish King of Ireland in history.

He was a capable warrior and leader of men, perhaps the most successful soldier in England during his prime, and a skilled user of spies and political manipulation.

Roger was one of King Edward II’s companions and was loyal for much of his life, until Hugh Despenser gained ascendency and favour. Despenser’s tyranny and Edward’s blind allegiance to him led to wars hot and cold until, finally, Despenser was killed and Edward imprisoned. A lot of what might sound inherently wicked (when Roger rebelled, for example) is actually not only explicable when placed in context, but can even be sympathised with.

Ian Mortimer claims Edward II survived his alleged murder, and that this was used by Roger to blackmail Edward III into compliance. The author makes a strong case for Edward II’s survival past his supposed murder, and, though I’m not a historian myself, I found it quite convincing.

The book is well-written and little to no prior knowledge is necessary to understand the political situation.

Whilst it is a biography of Sir Roger Mortimer, his story is necessarily intertwined with that of Edward II, the king who was not only his contemporary, but who imprisoned Roger and was subsequently overthrown by him.

Incidentally, I can strongly recommend buying this book as a set along with Marc Morris’ biography of Edward I and Ian Mortimer’s biography of Edward III.

Thaddeus

Review: The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation, by Ian Mortimer

The Perfect King is, as the title suggests, a biography of Edward III, who reigned in the 14^th century. It’s a bit modern for me as far as history goes, but I had hugely enjoyed Mortimer’s The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England and was looking forward forward to it.

The history begins ahead of Edward III’s own story, which helps to set the scene and establish the situation into which he was born and grew. The difficulties his father, Edward II, suffered (and caused) are gone into in sufficient detail to create the context for Edward III’s own story, without going overboard. It’s worth noting the author employs the simple consistency of referring to Edward III as ‘Edward’ throughout (handy when his father shared the name and his eldest son, usually called ‘the prince’ or ‘the Black Prince’, likewise).

I had the vague notion that Edward II had been murdered by red hot poker, though the author disagrees. Direct evidence of Edward’s father’s survival is scarce, but the circumstantial evidence is quite numerous, and a credible case is made for Edward II surviving for years longer than is generally believed.

The amount of information is extensive, and not limited to battles and war (although I must admit that is what most interested me). It was fascinating to read how early moment swung to and fro as Edward tussled with King Philip of France.

Throughout the book, the author does a good job in the useful (and sometimes essential) task of providing context to the actions and speech that are described. The medieval world is, in many ways, far removed from ours and the behaviour of those in the 14^th century can seem inexplicable, without explanation.

The succession of sad news and rapid descent from glory to tragedy of Edward towards the end of his long reign (one of the longest in English history) is very sympathetic. It takes little imagination to place oneself with an old man whose mind is fraying daily but who remains burdened by royal responsibility (particularly in the modern age, when Alzheimer’s is on the march).

It’s slightly surprising there wasn’t a brief section on the immediate aftermath of Edward’s death, regarding the succession.

The book has a number of maps near the beginning, including England, the Anglo-Scottish borders, France and other bits of Europe. Unlike some maps in books, they’re detailed without being cluttered, and none of the maps get partially devoured by the spine of the book.

Notes are frequent throughout. It’s a small thing, but I much prefer footnotes to having notes explained at the back of a book, which happens here. Checking back and forth is a little more tedious than glancing at the bottom of the page.

As is common with this sort of book, there are a number of photographs (black and white) and the odd picture contained within. The tombs are particularly interesting as they feature, in all likelihood, realistic depictions of the faces of significant figures, including Edward.

The end has eight appendices. Generally, these were of little interest to me (excepting an interesting explanation of why I* was almost certainly descended from Edward III). However, the whole purpose of appendices is to provide additional information that doesn’t sit easily in the main body of text or is not essential to the main subject, so that’s not an issue.

*Well, anyone with English ancestry. But that includes me.

I really rather like this book, and finished it feeling that I had an understanding of England prior to and after Edward’s reign, as well as the impact of major events (including the Black Death) on society. I have a little knowledge of the era but wouldn’t say I was well-versed in it, and never felt confused or out of my depth. 

Thaddeus