Restoration Politics, Religion and Culture

'An impressive text - extremely well organized and highly readable.'- Professor Melinda Zook, Purdue University, USA 'This book is without doubt the most student-friendly of recent accounts of the Restoration period. It is well written, with a light and engaging style, and deftly argued.'- Dr David Scott, History of Parliament Trust, UK 'The analysis is balanced and judicious, and articulates what is emerging as the new scholarly consensus in this vibrant field...Essential reading for anyone interested in the Restoration era.' - Tim Harris, English Historical Review

This essential volume offers students a number of highly focused chapters on key themes in Restoration history. Each addresses a core question or issue and uses a variety of sources to illustrate and illuminate arguments. The authors provide clear introductions to different aspects of the reigns of Charles II and James VII/II.This indispensable introductory guide offers students a number of highly focused chapters on key themes in Restoration history. Each addresses a core question relating to the period 1660-1714, and uses artistic and literary sources – as well as more traditional texts of political history – to illustrate and illuminate arguments. George Southcombe and Grant Tapsell provide clear analyses of different aspects of the era whilst maintaining an overall coherence based on three central propositions:
• 1660-1714 represents a political world fundamentally influenced by the civil wars and interregnum
• the period can best be understood by linking together types of evidence too often separated in conventional accounts
• the high politics of kings and their courts should be examined within broader social and geographical contexts.

Featuring chapters on the exclusion crisis, Charles II and James VII/II, as well as the British dimension, restoration culture, and politics out-of-doors, this is essential reading for anyone studying this fascinating period in British history.