- Paperback: 382 pages
- Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd (4 Sep 1997)
- ISBN-10: 0099429977
- ISBN-13: 978-0099429975
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,218,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Gunpowder Plot: Terror And Faith In 1605
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Press release & copy of THE GUNPOWDER PLOT sent to usual paperback mailing list AND a special list created for this title. Mailing was sent in time to tie in with Bonfire Night. Special mailing list included history, catholic and specialist publications, as well as selected regional press including publications covering Lewes region etc. Press release was also sent to regional radio stations offering competition copies as author is not available for interview. The following regional radio stations will be holding competitions on/around 5th November 2002.BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (Book of the Week 3/11)BBCRadio EssexBBC Radio NewcastleBBC Radio WM Coventry & WarwickshireBBC Radio MerseysideBBC Radio SolentBBC Midlands Late ShowBBC Radio KentBBC Radio GM
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First Sentence
We now step back from the light of the new reign into the shadows of the 1590s: for that is where the story of the Gunpowder Plot begins. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
We now step back from the light of the new reign into the shadows of the 1590s: for that is where the story of the Gunpowder Plot begins. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For those among you who have read other historical narratives by Antonia Fraser you will know that her depth of research and story telling skills are beyond reproach. And so it is with this book.
The book outlines not only the details of the conspiracy itself but also sets the scene by explaining the very real persecution that catholics were exposed to in the last years of Elizabeth's reign and how they hoped, and indeed believed, that they would achieve toleration once James was securely on the English throne.
One aspect of the book which I found particulary fascinating was in respect of how little things have changed over the last four hundred years. We still have politicians who are prepared to make all kinds of promises before they gain power which they have no intention of actually keeping. We also have politicians who have no qualms about lying to us about the real dangers posed by our so called enemies in order that they can implement policies which are beneficial to themselves. And, of course, even in the twenty first century we still have religious extremists who are prepared to bomb London in order to further their cause, though not thankfully those with catholic sympathies anymore.
As we would expect from a historical writer who has written so extensively about female historical characters she places much emphasis on the women who are connected to the powder treason, most notably Anne and Eliza Vaux. She also betrays her catholic sympathies, not so much by supporting the conspirators which she doesn't, but by her very sympathetic portrayal of the Jesuits and lay men who were part of the story, though not of the conspiracy.
In summary, I would highly recommend this book not only because it is a very good read but also because in many important respects many aspects of the narrative are still highly relevant today.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Antonia Fraser has the gift of presenting facts and documents from history in beautiful, engaging prose that you just want to keep on reading. The Gunpowder Plot was the first book by Ms Fraser that I read and I loved the thrill and the suspense which she weaves into her narrative. I felt as if I was reading a fast-paced, intriguing detective story rather than a book of fact - and though I knew from the start that the Plot will not succeed, Ms Fraser's style is so absorbing that you'll find youself turning the pages with excitement as you glimpse into the early 17th century religious turmoil of England. Most people will probably have heard of the Gunpowder Plot but won't really know about the forces that shaped it, or the outcome that it brought for England. With The Gunpowder Plot you will discover so many interesting facts about the Plot that you never knew, for example why celebrating Guy Fawkes Day in the USA is such a bizarre contradiction. I learnt a lot while reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't want to repeat all the many reviews already on here, but would like to add that there is a detectable emotional bias on the side of Fraser for the catholics. That doesn't detract from the book in any way (and could we ever elide our own emotions, opinions, bias' from any narrative?) but instead does add an interesting contemporary layer to her story. At the end, after the conspiracy has been discovered, this emotionalism becomes more obvious in the stories of the torture and execution of the conspirators (some of whom, arguably, were not actually involved). Fraser ends by not coming out on the side of the conspirators, but instead evoking the pity that such 'noble' men were forced into such ignoble deeeds: an interesting view, perhaps, given our own more recent experiences of terrorism in London and other places? A worthy book, and well-worth a read, both for its historical story-telling and its more modern narrative sub-text.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Published 9 months ago by Hiragi00
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The Gunpowder plot: Terror and faith in 1605, Antonia Fraser- A...
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Harrowing and Gripping
As soon as the scene of the day was set, I couldn't put this book down.
I only knew a bit of the gruesome fate that awaited a few of the characters of this real drama, but... Read more
I only knew a bit of the gruesome fate that awaited a few of the characters of this real drama, but... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2007 by greenwise design
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As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. In the present day come November 5th we all look forward to a firework display and a... Read more
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Remember, Remember
As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. In the present day come November 5th we all look forward to a firework display and a... Read more
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