Alice Hunt's 'Republic' is a comprehensive history of the tumultuous decade in England following the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I. The book divides into three parts, focusing on the cultural developments and innovations of the period, including the rise of intellectual life and the formation of the Experimental Philosophy Club, which later became the Royal Society. Hunt provides a balanced view of Oliver Cromwell's role and the eventual restoration of the monarchy, emphasizing that this period was not just an 'interregnum' but a time of significant change and innovation[1][2][3].
Four years into Britain's experiment as a republic, Oliver Cromwell staged a coup, violently dissolving parliament. His “Bare Bones Parliament” would not last either and, in December 1653, a new kind of limited monarchy was proposed with Cromwell as “Lord Protector.”
In this second of our series looking at the 1650s, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined again by Professor Alice Hunt to pick up the story of Britain as it moved from republic to protectorate, under the rule of Oliver Cromwell.
Presented by Professor Susannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor Joseph Knight and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
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