Is anyone watching this? I saw the first episode last week and it was
excellent. It's about a young woman (Andrea Riseborough,aka
young Maggie Thatcher) who gets involved in the War of Three Kingdoms and encounters historical figures such as Charles I and
Cromwell. It boasts a distinguished cast (Dominic West, Peter
Capaldi, John Simm) and excellent direction.
Bloody Hell - Maggie Thatcher & Oliver Cromwell on the same programme on telly at the same time!Originally Posted by Starkadder
Sorry I just can't handle Horror films once the Sun goes down....
Europa Conventus Delenda Est
Riseborough is actually a Labour supporter in real life though.
Your comment about horror films reminds me of the brilliant
17th century-set "Witchfinder General". Vincent Price is very good
in it-it's a pity he hams up in most of his other horror work.
It was really good. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Yeah I know - and they called us 'savages'.
If you want a good book on the Civil Wars read one called 'Going to the Wars' - full of eyewitness accounts.
Also Gilberts series online is fascinating and a huge goldmine of information on Ireland at that time.
A contemporary history of affairs in Ireland, from 1641 to 1652:
Internet Archive: Details: A contemporary history of affairs in Ireland, from 1641 to 1652. Now for the first time published, with an appendix of original letters and documents. Edited by John T. Gilbert
and
Internet Archive: Details: A contemporary history of affairs in Ireland, from 1641 to 1652. Now for the first time published, with an appendix of original letters and documents. Edited by John T. Gilbert
also
The embassy in Ireland of Monsignor G.B. Rinuccini, Archbishop of Fermo, in the years 1645-1649
Internet Archive: Details: The embassy in Ireland of Monsignor G.B. Rinuccini, Archbishop of Fermo, in the years 1645-1649. Published from the original MSS. in the Rinuccini Library
Europa Conventus Delenda Est
This Wednesday's episode will show Cromwell's invasion of Ireland,
as well as scenes of men and women ploughing fields (the Diggers?).
And of course, there was last weeks cliffhanger (how will Angelica
escape the gallows?).
English history as told by Mill and Boon!
Where are the Ranters or Fifth Monarchy Men?
Why not wait till the next two episodes air before complaining about omissions?
Hmm...New Model Army and the Levellers are taken,but the Ranters
sounds like a great name for a rock group.
i'm waiting for it to finish and then will download and watch it, as it does look promising but i hate having to wait a week for each installment....
Interesting series, i watched tonight's episode.
I thought the guy who played Cromwell didn't get him quite right, i think they over-emphasised the freedom to speak that would have existed in those days, the idea of anyone challenging Cromwell in the way some of the characters here did seems far-fetched, he was a power crazy dictator after all. I think a cold, piggish man with a violent temper and low tolerance would have been a more credible Cromwell (i will let them off for leaving out his horns).
It is amazing how influential that period of history was, the beginnings of communist ideology in the Diggers, the foundation of the modern state such as it is, with parliament and limitation on the power of king and the standing army introduced. As the new world was being born, the old world was being destroyed which brings me to the section on Ireland - i was initially irritated the old excuse for English violence in Ireland was raised when Cromwell says 'Ireland is our back door we must keep it bolted', the self-defence defence of English violence in Ireland is also used to justify Elisabeth I's deeds in this country - i wonder is it a new interpretation which has become superimposed on the past or did they really have to justify it to themselves in that way back then? The Irish segment was well done but brief, they didn't ignore his massacres in this country at least, though they skipped over Drogheda and slavery though slavery was really a later issue of the 1650's, the makers were honest enough to express his original intentions in attacking Ireland in terms of greed (to pay wages owed) and anti-Catholicism at one point. Perhaps the portrayal of Irish resistance in the series was not strong enough, they make us seem hopelessly weak but Cromwell lost more troops here than in England or Scotland, he lost more troops at Clonmel than any other battle in his life - for instance.
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