‘The Fiery Spirits: London Mob, Radicals & Regicides’: a Talk by John Rees

04-06-25 - 04-06-25,
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Admission: ££6.50 Adults, £5.00 Students/Museum Members

Location: Via Zoom

The Fiery Spirits tells the story of the MPs in parliament and the protestors in the streets who played a pivotal role in the English Civil Wars. Through their stories, John Rees reveals the hidden history of the republicans who brought a desperate nation to the brink of revolution.

At the start of the English Civil Wars, very few could have imagined that the country would soon become a republic. Practically alone in his republicanism was Henry Marten, MP and future regicide. But he soon gathered around him a group of radical Parliamentarians that included William Strode, the parliamentary firebrand, Alexander Rigby, the formidable soldier, and Sir Peter Wentworth, descendant of a long line of opponents of monarchy. They formed the nucleus of a group that allied itself to a popular movement outside parliament to defeat the king politically and militarily.

In this talk, accompanying his new book, Rees tells how Marten and his radical allies overcame both moderate Parliamentarians and Royalists to change the face of England forever, establishing a kingdom without a crown.

John Rees is a broadcaster and writer, author of 'The Leveller Revolution' and 'The Fiery Spirits', and Visiting Research Fellow, Goldsmiths, University of London.

This talk is part of a four part lecture series; for season tickets please click here.

This talk will be recorded and put on a private channel after the 'live talk' for ticket holders to view at their leisure if they miss the live talk or wish to view it again.

We are delighted to welcome over four successive Wednesdays:

Wednesday 28 May – Jordan Sly on 'Protector of the Reformed?'

Wednesday 4 June – John Rees on ‘The Fiery Spirits: London Radicals and Regicides’

Wednesday 11 June – Erica Canela on ‘Cromwell and the Quakers’

Wednesday 18 June – Jonathan Healey on 'The Blood in Winter'

Click on the titles for more information and individual bookings.

PLEASE NOTE: These talks will be held online via Zoom. Joining details will be sent 48 hours before the talk.

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