Diane Purkiss Books
Diane Purkiss is a British historian and literary scholar specializing in the English Civil War, seventeenth-century literature, and women's writing. She is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Keble College.
Known for: The English Civil War: A People's History
Books by Diane Purkiss
The English Civil War: A People's History
This book offers a comprehensive and vivid account of the English Civil War (1642–1651), exploring its political, social, and cultural dimensions. Diane Purkiss examines the conflict not only as a struggle between Parliament and the Crown but also as a profound upheaval that transformed everyday life, gender roles, and national identity. Drawing on letters, diaries, and contemporary sources, she presents the war through the eyes of ordinary people as well as key historical figures.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Diane Purkiss
Pre-war tensions
When I look back to early seventeenth-century England, I see a country outwardly prosperous and inwardly divided. The reign of Charles I began with great hopes of harmony—art, ceremony, and faith woven together in a distinctive vision of divine order. Yet beneath the splendor of his court lay dissat...
From The English Civil War: A People's History
The outbreak of war (1642)
The summer of 1642 felt like a season of heartbreak. Parliament raised its standard in opposition to the King, and friends, families, even parishes began to fracture. What had been an argument of words now became an argument of arms. England had no standing army; every county scraped together men an...
From The English Civil War: A People's History
About Diane Purkiss
Diane Purkiss is a British historian and literary scholar specializing in the English Civil War, seventeenth-century literature, and women's writing. She is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Keble College. Her works often combine historical research with c...
Read more
Diane Purkiss is a British historian and literary scholar specializing in the English Civil War, seventeenth-century literature, and women's writing. She is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Keble College. Her works often combine historical research with c...
Diane Purkiss is a British historian and literary scholar specializing in the English Civil War, seventeenth-century literature, and women's writing. She is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Keble College. Her works often combine historical research with cultural analysis, offering fresh perspectives on early modern Britain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Diane Purkiss is a British historian and literary scholar specializing in the English Civil War, seventeenth-century literature, and women's writing. She is a Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Keble College.
Read Diane Purkiss's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Diane Purkiss.