At the beginning of the 17th century, English politics centred on the king & the royal court. 90% of the population lived in the countryside, the vast majority was illiterate & famine & plague were regular scourges. However, by the turn of the 18th century, a new world had arisen. A world more familiar to our own: parliamentary politics, thriving arts & culture & even an embryonic welfare state. How did this happen? The story of this turbulent period is less well-known than it should be. Myths have grown around key figures; turning points like the Civil War are opaque for many. Yet the 17th century has never been more relevant. The British constitution is once again being bent & contorted, & there is a clash of ideologies reminiscent of when the Roundheads fought the Cavaliers. From raw politics to religious divisions, civil wars to witch trials, this title is the story of a strange but fascinating century.