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The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain

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The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Greg Wagland
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If you could travel back in time, the period from 1660 to 1700 would make one of the most exciting destinations in history. It’s the age of Samuel Pepys and the Great Fire of London, bawdy comedy and the libertine court of Charles II, Christopher Wren in architecture, Henry Purcell in music and Isaac Newton in science. In The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain, Ian Mortimer answers the crucial questions that a prospective traveller to seventeenth-century Britain would ask.©2017 Ian Mortimer (P)2017 W F Howes Ltd Europe Great Britain England Thought-Provoking Middle Ages Royalty
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But not the book, which is informative and lively. The dreadful Charles II has returned from exile, and for a while, many people breathe a sigh of relief. Life during the Commonwealth has been decidedly dull at best, fun is banned and it’s a world in black and white. With Charles, of course, fun is compulsory (even when it’s not enjoyable, especially for women).
He was not a wise monarch, like his father before him (IMHO, the worst Scotsman ever born!), but the colour is back in the world.
The Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, Pepys, venereal disease, scurrilous plays and poetry, but we also learn how ordinary people lived in all sections of the population, this time including Scotland, because at this date, the Crowns have been merged, but not the Parliaments.
It seems that, in history, the pendulum swings from stiff respectively to wild licentiousness (they’ve got William and Mary coming up).
I enjoyed the panorama of life at an interesting point in time.

I’d give this era low rating on Trip Advisor.

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The narrator's soothing voice takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you see the good and bad of the age.

Moving and thought provoking

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This was an interesting book that displays facts in an entertaining way. If, like me, you're a fan of history but not so passionate about it that you read every single dry piece of research you can find then you'll probably enjoy this book.

Interesting and entertaining

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I greatly enjoyed listening to this entertaining and informative book, which follows on nicely from the two earlier volumes. It's fascinating to realise how society has changed in a relatively short time. The narration was clear and articulate, a great benefit as I listen to audiobooks while driving.

Excellent continuation of the series

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As someone who has trouble sleeping, I found this the ideal book to listen to in bed. It is full of interesting stuff about life from 1660 onwards. I find Greg Wagland's narration soothing to listen to and drop off quite quickly (sorry Greg). The good thing is, there's no plot line to worry about missing when you fall asleep. I just catch up with the missing bits another time (mind you, I've listened to it nearly every night since the start of lockdown, so could probably answer questions on Mastermind on this subject now!) It's a pity history lessons at school were never this interesting.

Great Bedtime Story Material

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