This books covers a rather intense period of English history when it seemed that society itself would fall apart. Reading the opening chapter the I was struck by several parallels between 17th century England and early 21st century America. Once again the issues of religion and the course of the nation drove the English people to take sides and ultimately remove and beheaded Charles the First. It also was a time of great intellectual upheaval as well. Instead of Anglican versus Catholic
it became Puritan versus Anglican. In order to avoid a large survey focus the author focuses on 5 men and their participation in the remaking of the London after the Great Fire. This approach more or less
works. ( )

A fantastic book! Trying to combine biographies of five men, English history from Cromwell's rise through the crowning of George I, the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire, and the building of Wren's St Pauls Cathedral could have made this book just a survey, or perhaps incomprehensibly dense. Instead it is fascinating and (perhaps surprisingly) readable. Very highly recommended for any readers interested in English history of the period. It certainly should be considered a new standard work on the Restoration and the birth of modern London. ( )