1666
Ratings3
Average rating3.3
15
Ratings3
Average rating3.3
1666 was a watershed year for England. The outbreak of the Great Plague, the eruption of the second Dutch War and the Great Fire of London all struck the country in rapid succession and with devastating repercussions. Shedding light on these dramatic events, historian Rebecca Rideal reveals an unprecedented period of terror and triumph. Based on original archival research and drawing on little-known sources, 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire takes 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, 1666 also offers a glimpse of the incredible scientific and artistic progress being made at that time, from Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity to Robert Hooke's microscopic wonders. It was in this year that John Milton completed Paradise Lost, Frances Stewart posed for the now-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, 1666 shows a city and a country on the cusp of modernity, and a series of events that forever altered the course of history.
Reviews with the most likes.
Interesting read. It covered the plague and how it was dealt with including implementing “pest houses” where they would send everyone that had the plague and the fact that when the rich left the cities most of the Doctors went with them. So that left the people who weren't well off to deal with this largely on their own.
It also covered the war between England and Holland and the massive London fire of the time. The author did a good job of presenting the historical facts while still making it interesting. There were times when I thought it droned on a bit (thus the 3 star rating) but some of the other areas were interesting enough to make it worth a read.
