Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
God’s Revolution
- A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Historical Drama
- Narrated by: full cast, Bernard Hepton, Nigel Anthony, Christian Rodska, Graham Blockey
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
An epic 12-part drama about the events leading up to, and following, the execution of King Charles I
England, 1647. Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army has routed the Royalists, and the king, having fled to Scotland, has been ransomed, sent back across the border and imprisoned. It seems the war is over, but there is trouble ahead. Parliament wants to disband the army and install its own militia—an act that looks, to Cromwell's loyal soldiers, like outright betrayal.
As dissent grows within the ranks, agitators such as Francis White and John Reynolds, and leading Leveller John Lilburne, step up to speak for the common man. What began with a dispute over army demobilisation soon becomes far more, and a radical faction arises demanding freedom, equality and power to the people. But for Cromwell and his commander in chief, Thomas Fairfax, this is a challenge to Parliament's authority and smacks of revolution. Facing a schism within the army, Cromwell is torn—but when the king escapes from custody, he and his troops have a new threat to deal with....
Meanwhile, the women at home have troubles of their own. Clever, independent Penelope White is subject to the whims of her intransigent father, who wants her to marry a man of his choosing. And Lilburne's wife, Elizabeth, must risk her life each time she smuggles forbidden political papers into his cell in the Tower of London. As their men prepare to fight once more, what does the future hold for them?
Set between the pivotal years of 1647 and 1649, this classic civil war drama stars Bernard Hepton as Cromwell, Nigel Anthony as Fairfax, Graham Blockey as Francis White, Christian Rodska as Lilburne, William Eedle as Charles I, Deborah Makepeace as Penelope and Maureen O'Brien as Elizabeth.
Cast and credits
Written by Don Taylor
God's Revolution
Lord General Fairfax - Nigel Anthony
John Church—Eric Allan
Francis White—Graham Blockey
Charles I/Lieut. Colonel Jackson/Cornet Denne—William Eedle
Oliver Cromwell—Bernard Hepton
Stephen White—David March
John Reynolds—Kim Wall
John Lilburne—Christian Rodska
James Thompson—Simon Cuff
Miles Sindercombe/Col. Rainsborough/Sir William Waller/Morrison—John Baddeley
Corporal Perkins/Silent soldier/Simeon/Joseph/Winstanley/Brother Gerard—Steve Hodson
Colonel James/Lockyer/Major General Skippon/Huntingdon—Peter Craze
Edmund White/Major Gooday/Col. Scroop—Cornelius Garrett
Penelope White—Deborah Makepeace
Elizabeth Lilburne—Maureen O'Brien
William Thompson/Captain Musket—Anthony Jackson
Commissary Ireton—Bill Wallis
Edward Sexby/Col. Whalley—John Hartoch
Lady Anne Fairfax—Lin Sagovsky
Cornet Joyce/Everard—Jonathan Nibbs
Betty—Zelah Clarke
Mrs Cromwell/Martha—June Barrie
John Lilburne—Christian Rodska
Beggar woman—June Tobin
John Wildman—Stephen Rashbrook
Robin—Elizabeth Lindsay
Isaac—Christopher Asante
Capt. Hatton—Alan Coveney
Pride—Norman Eshley
Mary Overton—Barbara Kellermann
Mrs Chidley—Ellen Dryden
Barry—Paul Sirr
Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin and Ronald Mason
Psalms arranged by Blaise Compton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7th October-23rd December 1988
Critic reviews
"Classy writing...wonderfully crisp, with a brilliant cast." (The Spectator)
What listeners say about God’s Revolution
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jitterbug
- 11-07-22
Excellent Dramatisation
This is a noisy, action-packed and fast-paced drama set in the middle of the English civil war.
It’s a great recording, and sounds fantastic through multiple speakers.
I liked how the drama is split into 12 sections, like the radio broadcast, so it is easy to listen to as much or as little as you like with natural breaks.
It might be helpful to refresh yourself with the main protagonists and their roles, before listening - as everything happens very quickly in this production!
I found this a really enjoyable and entertaining listen, and I particularly liked how the drama focused on the soldiers more than big political players.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Peter
- 21-08-22
Riveting and vivid
Should be compulsory for all school students as part of their citizenship education. It’s a formative but forgotten or ignored part of our national story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. R. Jarmain
- 05-02-22
Absolutely riveting. A tour de force.
This has to be one of
the best radio plays of all time. The story is skilfully constructed, the direction and performances superb. I found it absolutely riveting! Don't miss it!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- rt19561
- 04-08-22
Dated
It’s an OK listen if you’re interested in the history. A bit too much overacting for my liking but the biggest issue is the volume which is all over the place.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dr. N. WOODRUFF
- 04-11-22
A fascinating insight into Oliver Crowell
The journeys, battles, trials and tribulations in the life of Oliver Cromwell. God's Man or villain
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rufus
- 29-01-22
Loved it on Radio4 Extra so I bought the audiobook
A great listen on Radio4 Extra, it's even better now that I can listen when I like.
It's an English Civil war drama that engages the listener in historical events, not just of the main characters such as Oliver Cromwell and King Charles, but many of the troops.
A recommendation for anyone interested in historical drama.
Chapters are named.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- rcwApr10
- 20-11-23
Compelling story accessibly presented
The story is well constructed and held my attention for over 11 hours of intensive listening. Some excellent voice acting, particularly Bernard Hepton as Cromwell and Nigel Antony as Fairfax. There is the occasional variation in volume as others have said but I didn’t get distracted by it. It might be slightly ‘worthy’ for some but it’s of its time. I don’t think a production on this epic scale on this subject would be attempted now…. Thanks Audible and the other reviewers for recommending.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sacha
- 18-07-22
hard to listen to.
the recording was really bad. the sound levels were going up and down . spoilt the whole book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr Mark J Grey
- 01-05-23
Really entertaining and enjoyable
History brought to life, a helicopter view of the reintroduction of power after the 1st and second civil wars. Great!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. C. B. McManus
- 10-10-22
Top Drawer, a must Civil War enthusiasts
A really strange thing happened with this audiobook for me, I spent the first two hours regretting the purchase finding the characters unlikeable & the plot dated. Then because those two hours were spent mainly on character development they picked the plot up & I was gripped. The sudden change of pace & events coming thick & fast really gave the impression of momentum of fast changing times which lends itself to the story. In that respect the cast & production is first class. Some ppl have said the sound levels aren't right but I didn't experience that. There are a few moments when the cast are speaking in different volumes but this seemed to me intentional, quietened speech being conspiratorial or pondering with the loud direct forceful speech (mainly Cromwell).
Synopsis wise this play tells the story of The New Model army having to deal with victory in the Civil Wars & their new found politicisation. Every man has a different idea of what should come next, what England they are building & this tells the tale of those different voices as they try to get their prefered settlement adopted whilst events change around them.
There is one negative & that is that the portrayal of women is quite dated. I'm not talking about historically but as characters in media. They are reduced to the old tried & tested being married off without consent as being the main female character plot point which is a shame as there are some significant historical women here like Lilburne's wife who could really have gotten a bigger role. There is one notable plot where a soldier's wife goes astray, the whole plot there revolves around her having to make it up to him & get his forgiveness & she is really portrayed as just hysterical woman who gets carried away. There really should have been more on her motivations it's dangerously close to the old medieval trope of women being sex mad temptresses that need to be controlled by men.
Not really a complaint but the writer has a hard on for Gerald Winstanley & shoehorns in a brief plot that goes nowhere to show what an awesome peace loving dude he was. All other characters are shown with strengths & weaknesses but Winstanley is like a hero of the 60s cinema who does & says everything perfectly right constantly. His handful of scenes made me eyeroll a fair bit.
Those negatives are two small sub plots though, the mass of the story is with the leadership of the army & is superb. I am now frantically searching for anything similar to consume.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!