1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire

1666 was a watershed year for England. An outbreak of the Great Plague, the eruption of the second Dutch War, and the devastating Great Fire of London all struck the country in rapid succession and with devastating repercussions.

Shedding light on these dramatic events and their context, historian Rebecca Rideal reveals an unprecedented period of terror and triumph. Based in original archival research drawing on little-known sources,1666opens with the fiery destruction of London before taking readers on a thrilling journey through a crucial turning point in English history as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary cast of historical characters.

While the central events of this significant year were ones of devastation and defeat,1666also offers a glimpse of the incredible scientific and artistic progress being made at that time, from Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity to the establishment of TheLondon Gazette. It was in this year that John Milton completedParadise Lost, Frances Stewart posed for the iconic image of Britannia, and a young architect named Christopher Wren proposed a plan for a new London-a stone phoenix to rise from the charred ashes of the old city.

With flair and style,1666exposes readers to a city and a country on the cusp of modernity and a series of events that altered the course of history.

Format: Hardback
Published: UK, 2016
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Pages: 304
Language: English
ISBN 13:9781250097064
ISBN 10:1250097061