The World Turned Upside Down

by Christopher Hill
The World Turned Upside Down cover
Good Books rating 4.25
History
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  • ID: 7360
  • Added: 2025-12-14
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780140137323
  • Publisher: Penguin Group USA
  • Published: 1991-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In 'The World Turned Upside Down,' Christopher Hill delves into the revolutionary ideas of groups like the Diggers, Ranters, and Levellers during the mid-seventeenth century English revolution. These radical movements envisioned a society with communal property, wider democracy, and a rejection of the protestant ethic, challenging the triumph of the propertied class. The book paints a vivid picture of the social and emotional impulses that fueled these movements, including class relations, sexual freedom, and the imaginative works of Milton and Bunyan./n/nHill's meticulous research builds a detailed and coherent portrait of this tumultuous period, highlighting the potential for a vastly different societal structure. The book offers a fascinating exploration of the beliefs and actions that could have altered the course of history, providing insights into the social and political dynamics of the time.

Reviews
One Hundred Pages · 2022-03-29
informative 3.50

This book offers a fresh perspective on the English Civil War, although some of its insights may feel dated after fifty years. The author's scholarship is impressive, but the book's relevance today is questionable.

This book offers a fresh perspective on the English Civil War, although some of its insights may feel dated after fifty years. The author's scholarship is impressive, and their ability to bring history to life is commendable. However, the book's relevance today is questionable, as some of the ideas and arguments may not resonate with modern readers. The author's focus on the revolution is thorough, and their analysis is insightful, but the book's impact is lessened by its age. Despite this, the book is still a valuable resource for those interested in the subject, and it offers a unique perspective that is worth considering. The author's passion for the subject is evident, and their argument is well-reasoned, making this a book that is worth reading for those interested in the English Civil War.

Quick quotes

    This is a book set on taking a fresh look at the English Civil War, so one may wonder now how fresh it still is, fifty years later.

    Christopher Hill is a masterful guide to this period in history and this is a really good place to start understanding the revolution from a far.

    The author's scholarship is impressive, and their ability to bring history to life is commendable.

Revolutionary Society 21 · 2021-06-04
inspiring 4.50

This book is a passionate exploration of revolutionary ideas, capturing the spirit of change and the struggle for a better society. The author's anger and commitment shine through, making it a compelling read.

This book is a passionate exploration of revolutionary ideas, capturing the spirit of change and the struggle for a better society. The author's anger and commitment shine through, making it a compelling read. The narrative begins with a dramatic event that sets the tone for the rest of the book, drawing the reader into a world of political turmoil and ideological conflict. The author's deep understanding of the subject matter is evident, and their ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible way is commendable. The book is not just a historical account but a call to action, inspiring readers to think critically about the world around them and the possibilities for change. The author's passion is infectious, and their argument is persuasive, making this a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Quick quotes

    It's an appropriate title for a righteously angry novel about revolution in the modern world.

    The narrative begins with the murder of Charles King, a wryly observed event that sets the tone for the rest of the book.

    The author's deep understanding of the subject matter is evident, and their ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible way is commendable.

Guardian Bookshop · 2020-02-06
groundbreaking 4.75

This book is a groundbreaking work that captures the spirit of the revolution and the ideas that drove it. The author's focus on the common people is a significant contribution to the field of history.

This book is a groundbreaking work that captures the spirit of the revolution and the ideas that drove it. The author's focus on the common people is a significant contribution to the field of history, as it brings to light the experiences and perspectives of those who are often overlooked. The book is not just a historical account but a call to action, inspiring readers to think critically about the world around them and the possibilities for change. The author's passion is infectious, and their argument is persuasive, making this a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. The book's relevance today is undeniable, as the ideas and arguments it presents are still relevant and thought-provoking. The author's scholarship is impressive, and their ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible way is commendable.

Quick quotes

    'His finest work and one that was both symptom and engine of the concept of "history from below" ... Here Levellers, Diggers, Ranters, ...

    The book is not just a historical account but a call to action, inspiring readers to think critically about the world around them and the possibilities for change.

    The author's passion is infectious, and their argument is persuasive, making this a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

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