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A review by hmalagisi
The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War by Jessie Childs
4.0
A war between brothers and cousins to determine the future of England is raging, but it is not the same kind of war England saw during medieval times. It is a clash of ideas, religious beliefs, and a fight for the survival of the reigning English king. On one side were the Catholic supporters of King Charles I, known as Cavaliers, and on the other were the Protestant Roundheads who wanted to see the king removed from the throne. Caught in the middle was the home of the Winchesters, known as Basing House, a royalist stronghold, which withstood sieges and bloodshed for two years amid the conflict. Jessie Childs’ latest book, “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War,” is dedicated to telling the story of this remarkable house and the men and women who fought to the death to defend it.
Before reading this book, I knew little about the English Civil War. I knew that it ended with the death of King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell became the new ruler of England, and I knew that one side was called Roundheads while the other was referred to as Cavaliers, but I did not know which was which. So, I was pretty much walking into this book and this period in English history blind. I had heard about this book from historian friends on social media, so I decided to give it a shot.
Childs has focused more on the men and women involved in defending Basing House, also known as “Loyalty House,” a stronghold for royalists or those who chose to tear down the barricades. These men and women were not soldiers, far from it. They were apothecaries, architects, mothers, wives, gamekeepers, and ordinary people, alongside the Marquess and Marchioness of Winchester. From 1643 until 1645, Basing House and its inhabitants faced the horror of war with numerous siege attempts by the Protestant Roundheads, who wanted to see the Catholic Cavaliers fall.
I found this an enjoyable read and very intriguing. It is well-researched and introduces a brand new cast of characters from the past, along with the harrowing tale of Basing House. As a novice in studying the English Civil War, it was a challenging read for me. I will return to this book once I read more books about the English Civil War.
Childs has written a thrilling tale about the horrors of war resilience of those within the walls of Basing House. This may have been the first book I have read written by Jessie Childs, but it will not be my last. Suppose you have read books about the English Civil War and want another unique look into this tumultuous time in English history. In that case, I highly suggest you read “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War” by Jessie Childs.
Before reading this book, I knew little about the English Civil War. I knew that it ended with the death of King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell became the new ruler of England, and I knew that one side was called Roundheads while the other was referred to as Cavaliers, but I did not know which was which. So, I was pretty much walking into this book and this period in English history blind. I had heard about this book from historian friends on social media, so I decided to give it a shot.
Childs has focused more on the men and women involved in defending Basing House, also known as “Loyalty House,” a stronghold for royalists or those who chose to tear down the barricades. These men and women were not soldiers, far from it. They were apothecaries, architects, mothers, wives, gamekeepers, and ordinary people, alongside the Marquess and Marchioness of Winchester. From 1643 until 1645, Basing House and its inhabitants faced the horror of war with numerous siege attempts by the Protestant Roundheads, who wanted to see the Catholic Cavaliers fall.
I found this an enjoyable read and very intriguing. It is well-researched and introduces a brand new cast of characters from the past, along with the harrowing tale of Basing House. As a novice in studying the English Civil War, it was a challenging read for me. I will return to this book once I read more books about the English Civil War.
Childs has written a thrilling tale about the horrors of war resilience of those within the walls of Basing House. This may have been the first book I have read written by Jessie Childs, but it will not be my last. Suppose you have read books about the English Civil War and want another unique look into this tumultuous time in English history. In that case, I highly suggest you read “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War” by Jessie Childs.