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Britain's wild republican decade

Alice Hunt explores the extraordinary period when the monarchy was abolished – and replaced by a republic

Published: December 6, 2024 at 8:30 AM

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For some, it's hard to imagine Britain without a king or queen. Yet, nearly 400 years ago, that prospect became a reality. In January 1649, after a bloody civil war, King Charles I was put on trial, found guilty and beheaded. The 11 years that followed witnessed a bold republican experiment that dominated the lives of those across Britain and Ireland. In this episode, Danny Bird speaks to Alice Hunt about her new book on this revolutionary chapter in history. She discusses a transformative decade which saw some of the 17th century's greatest literary and scientific minds cut their teeth, busts some myths about Cromwell's puritan cronies, and reveals how Britain’s republican decade has left an indelible mark on its modern monarchy and constitution.

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Alice Hunt is the author of Republic: Britain’s Revolutionary Decade, 1649-1660 (Faber & Faber, 2024)

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Authors

Danny BirdContent producer

Danny Bird is a content producer at HistoryExtra

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