C.V. Wedgwood wrote readable history. In some quarters that may mark her down as an unworthy amateur, but discard that foolish view. Pick up this collection of essays and sample her distinctive almost conversational, but always proper style. Moreover, Dame Wedgwood knew her stuff when it came to her work on 17th century England, its Great Civil War and the fascinating characters such Charles I and II, Cromwell, and Laud to name only a few. The volume contains 50 or so essays and lectures ranging from brief profiles of a few pages to slightly lengthier works on topics like `The Scientists and the English Civil War', `Shakespeare - The Close of an Epoch' and `Social Comedy in the Reign of Charles I'. The collection also includes essays on the historian's craft and a reflection on post-war Paris.

Wedgwood minced no words in explaining "why a conflict which might have been confined to a parliamentary argument became in the end an open war." While the immediate cause of the war was a "clash over control of the armed forces" needed to put down the rebellion in Ireland, the underlying real cause was Charles I relationship with Catholic Spanish throne and the distrust that engendered. Charles not only minted and transported Spanish silver to the Netherlands for Spain's war there, but he even allowed Spanish troops to march from Plymouth to Dover to avoid dangerous exposure to the Dutch fleet! In her words, "Charles had shown that he was more interested in Spanish gold than in the immunity of English shores. This caused the Civil War." Obviously, Wedgwood did not quail from stating her views with an unmistakable clarity that calls to mind the great historian of our American Civil War James McPherson (see his This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War.

Readers may also enjoy her study The Thirty Years War (New York Review Books Classics) republished as part of the excellent NYRB Classics series.

Absolutely the highest recommendation for anyone with the least interest in history, England, or the relationship between the governed and governing classes. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this jewel. ( )