The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms 1638-1652 (review)

Of the writing of books on the wars which afflicted England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in the middle of the seventeenth century there seems to be no end. In the last fifteen years some fifty military histories have appeared. So the criterion for any addition to the literature must be its originality. The answer lies in the title of Professor Gentles' study, The English Revolution and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms—to which, to be fair to my Cymmredorian heritage, he should have added and a Principality, making it even more of a mouthful!

Best known for his definitive work on The New Model Army (1992), Gentles looks at events across the three kingdoms, showing how they relate to each other. Often, however, they do not, taking place separately in parallel, which makes his narrative a little confusing, especially for those unfamiliar with the period. But his descriptions are based on a thorough mastery of the primary sources as well as a deep understanding of the latest literature. The book starts with an astute reading of the politics which led to war. His description of military events is detailed, and supported by excellent maps. Some might find it a little traditional, for Gentles focuses on the battles, sieges and leaders in a top down fashion. He does not say much about campaigning or small skirmishes in which many died. Not until the last chapter, a superb analysis of the human and material costs of the wars, does he give a nod to the "new military history" (although none of the works in this genre are listed in the comprehensive bibliography). With his usual charm and good manners, Gentles argues that my computer based figures on deaths are too high, citing as evidence "My own opinion—reinforced by conversations with other students of the civil wars" (pp. 433-34). He may be right. Certainly his outstanding analysis of the tremendous material cost of the wars—over sixty million pounds—supports the view we share that the wars were profoundly devastating.

This connects with the first part of his title, The English Revolution. (What about the Welsh, Scots, and Irish ones?) Using the work of David Cressy, who argued that the truly revolutionary moment came in 1640-42 before the fighting started, and not with Cromwell and the Army after the first civil war ended, Gentles revives an old interpretation. The concept of a Puritan Revolution or a Bourgeois Revolution faded away with the decline of radical religion (at least amongst academics) and the collapse of communism. But the idea of a revolution—dare I say a military revolution?—that expressed itself in the battlefield is an intriguing one. In sum, Ian Gentles has made an impressive contribution to a field that is not short of impressive contributions.