The Restless Republic - Britain Without A Crown By Anna Keay

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20230807

Eleven years when Britain had no king.

On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew.

The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy.

Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution.

THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4

Reader: Helen Schlesinger

The Civil War is over and now King Charles I is on trial for treason

The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.

20230808

Eleven years when Britain had no king.

In episode two we meet a flamboyant journalist with a habit of switching his political loyalties.

THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4

Reader: Helen Schlesinger

The Cheshire lawyer, John Bradshaw, is unexpectedly famous, and powerful

The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.

20230809

Eleven years when Britain had no king.

In episode three the new government tries to get its message across via the press, and the charismatic journalist Marchamont Nedham finds himself in prison.

THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4

Reader: Helen Schlesinger

The new regime needs a new image and a convincing propaganda campaign.

The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.

20230810

Eleven years when Britain had no king.

In episode four the Countess of Derby attempts to hold on to the last royalist stronghold whilst her husband is imprisoned in Chester castle.

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4

Reader: Helen Schlesinger

The indomitable Countess of Derby fights for her husband's life.

The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.

20230811

Eleven years when Britain had no king.

In episode five the competing priorities of the men who ruled England make for a dangerous instability, and lead eventually to the end of the republic.

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4

Reader: Helen Schlesinger

The fall of the republic. General Monck cannot support government by the sword.

The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20230807	Eleven years when Britain had no king. On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy. Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution. THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Reader: Helen Schlesinger The Civil War is over and now King Charles I is on trial for treason The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.
02	20230808	Eleven years when Britain had no king. On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy. Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution. In episode two we meet a flamboyant journalist with a habit of switching his political loyalties. THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Reader: Helen Schlesinger The Cheshire lawyer, John Bradshaw, is unexpectedly famous, and powerful The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.
03	20230809	Eleven years when Britain had no king. On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy. Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution. In episode three the new government tries to get its message across via the press, and the charismatic journalist Marchamont Nedham finds himself in prison. THE RESTLESS REPUBLIC by Anna Keay Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Reader: Helen Schlesinger The new regime needs a new image and a convincing propaganda campaign. The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.
04	20230810	Eleven years when Britain had no king. On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy. Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution. In episode four the Countess of Derby attempts to hold on to the last royalist stronghold whilst her husband is imprisoned in Chester castle. Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Reader: Helen Schlesinger The indomitable Countess of Derby fights for her husband's life. The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.
05	20230811	Eleven years when Britain had no king. On a raw January afternoon in 1649, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the useless and dangerous' House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. Notable players from the time also feature, including Lord Fairfax, creator of the New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell and George Monck the general who negotiated the return of the monarchy. Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain's history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution. In episode five the competing priorities of the men who ruled England make for a dangerous instability, and lead eventually to the end of the republic. Abridged and produced by Jill Waters and The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Reader: Helen Schlesinger The fall of the republic. General Monck cannot support government by the sword. The story of the extraordinary decade that followed the execution of Charles I in 1649.