The Road Not Taken: How Britain Narrowly Missed a Revolution, 1381-1926

Description

An incisive analysis cutting to the heart of Britain's most turbulent moments and looking at why Britain may have been brought to the brink at times, but didn't descend into revolution. Britain has not been successfully invaded since 1066; nor, in nearly 1,000 years has it known a true revolution - one that brings radical, systemic and enduring change. The contrast with Britain's European neighbours, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia, is dramatic - all have been convulsed by external warfare, revolution and civil war and experienced fundamental change to their ruling elites or social and economic structures. Frank McLynn takes seven occasions when Britain came closest to revolution- the Peasants' Revolt of 1381; the Jack Cade rebellion of 1450; the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536; the English Civil Wars of the 1640s; the Jacobite Rising of 1745-6; the Chartist Movement of 1838-48; and the General Strike of 1926. Why, at these dramatic turning points, did history finally fail to turn? McLynn examines Britain's history and themes of social, religious and political change to explain why social turbulence stopped short of revolution on so many occasions.

Frank McLynn is a highly regarded historian, who specializes in biographies and military history. He has written over 20 books, including critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon and Richard the Lionheart. Other books include 1066, Stanley, 1759, and Marcus Aurelius. He is a graduate of Wadham College, Oxford, and London University, where he obtained his doctorate.

Elegantly written, highly opinionated and enormously enjoyable, this one...is among McLynn's best * Sunday Times * Intelligent, combative, thoroughly researched and thoroughly readable history... Outstanding -- Edward Pearce * Independent * Fascinating and always enjoyable -- Sean McGlynn * Spectator * A refreshing look at Britain's relationship with revolution * The Scotman * Refreshing ... [an] intelligent, provocative book -- Edward Vallance * Literary Review *