The Restless Republic: Britain without a Crown

The Restless Republic is a 2022 book that tells the story of the 10 years after Charles I was executed in 1649, when Britain had no king and the English monarchy was abolished. It follows the people who lived through those years, including Anna Trapnel, John Bradshaw, Marchamont Nedham, Gerrard Winstanley, William Petty, and the Countess of Derby, and explores how they set the British Isles on a new course and what happened when a conservative people tried revolution.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Eleven years of upheaval marked Britain's history when there was no king. In 1649, a revolutionary wave swept across the nation, resulting in the execution of Charles I, the Stuart king, for treason. Within a matter of weeks, the English monarchy was abolished, and the "useless and dangerous House of Lords" was discarded. The announcement reverberated across the land: the people had become the sovereign force in the country. The implications of this seismic shift were uncertain, and the path forward was shrouded in mystery.

The Restless Republic is a captivating narrative that delves into the extraordinary decade that followed. It serves as a guide through the lives of the individuals who lived through these tumultuous years. Among them are Anna Trapnel, the daughter of a Deptford shipwright whose visionary ideas captivated the nation. John Bradshaw, a Cheshire lawyer tasked with trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, a dynamic newspaperman and master of propaganda. Gerrard Winstanley, a visionary who sought a utopia of common ownership, where hunger was eradicated. William Petty, a precocious scientist who mapped Ireland, paving the way for the dispossession of thousands. Lastly, the indomitable Countess of Derby, who valiantly defended the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man until the very end.

Spanning from London to Leith, Cornwall to Connacht, The Restless Republic takes readers on a journey through the corridors of power and the common fields and hillsides. Author Anna Keay skillfully weaves together a diverse cast of trembling visionaries, banished royalists, dextrous mandarins, and bewildered bystanders, bringing to life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in British history. This is the story of how these tempestuous years shaped the British Isles and the consequences of a conservative people attempting a revolution.

The Restless Republic offers a profound exploration of the human spirit and the power of collective action. It sheds light on the complexities of political ideologies, the struggles for power, and the profound impact of historical events on society. Through the lives of these individuals, the book paints a vivid portrait of a nation in transition, grappling with the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

In conclusion, The Restless Republic is a must-read for anyone interested in British history, politics, and the human condition. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for change in the face of adversity. This extraordinary book has earned its place as the Sunday Times History Book of the Year 2022, winner of the Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize for Non-Fiction, and has been shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring relevance of history in shaping our understanding of the world.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008282059