aBurntShip

                                  First broadcast by the BBC on 1st November 1980  The Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and the Taking of Guy Fawkes  (c. 1823) by  Henry Perronet Briggs . In the Public Domain, courtesy of 'Wikipedia'  At time of writing the Play is  available to  Listen Here   Michael Bully, 27th October 2025 . 'Gunpowder, Treason & Plot; Radio Drama, was part of the 'Saturday Night Theatre' series, written by A.J.Walton, with Michael Spice, Christopher Scott and John Moffat. Produced by Margaret Etall. Said to be influenced by Francis Edwards 'The True Story of the Gunpowder Plot' ( 1969). A description of the play read .... But what if the legend is based on a deliberate plan to deceive the country and discredit the Catholics? Why Guy himself was a voluntary participant, only on condition that he would reprieved.  The play starts with G...

        Book 2 in the War of the Three Kingdoms 'Rebellion'  Series  Delighted to have a chance to review Mark Turnbull's new novella featuring Royalist soldier Maxwell Walker. I have done my best not to present any 'spoilers'.  And the tale begins on 4th October 1645, with the Royalist cause, post the defeat at Naseby, in desperate straits, and their chances of victory are looking quite hopeless by May 1646 when the novel ends.  The author presents  the more enjoyable and  familiar strands of fiction quite well.  Maxwell Walker fights his own private battles,  being continually confronted  with his nemesis, Gervase  Harper , who is nominally  fighting on the same side. The contrast between the two is well shown. Walker  uses his intelligence to persuade Parliamentarians who are trapped into surrendering to avoid pointless bloodshed, tries to ensure prisoners are treated fairly. Harper is just a master of li...

                      John Wintour , executed Redhill, April 1606 As we are now entering the Gunpowder Treason Season, thought that would share some of my (inconclusive) research of the life of John Wintour, the younger half brother of Thomas Wintour and Robert Wintour, who were both executed for their involvement in the Gunpowder Plot .I have used the spelling 'Wintour ',  though 'Winter' or 'Wynter' are sometimes used for the family name. For this piece, have broadly taken the official 'King's Book' version of what happened at face value, though quite understand why others choose not to.        The Scene at the Execution of the Gunpowder Plotters. Date: 1606   Nikolaus Visscher  (1597–1651) Following the 400th anniversary of the Plot in 2005,  a new wave of books documentaries, TV dramas have emerged, The downfall of the two elder Wintour brothers was well portrayed and sometimes embel...

                                                    Lyrics from 17th century ballad                                                    When canons are roaring, and bullets are flying,                                                 He that would honor win, must not fear dying ,                                                      Picture of the Battle of the White Mountain 1621, in public domain, courtesy of Wikipedia  Very glad to have come across the Passamezzo   v...

                                1869 Classic by R.D. Blackmore  Was lucky enough to be given the Penguin Classics edition prepared by R.D.Madison and Michelle Allen, from 2005. Drawn on their introduction for biographical information along with the  Victorian Web  entry.                                                       Poster for 1922 silent movie version I was wondering if anyone can name another novel by Richard Doderidge Blackmore (1825 -1900) besides Lorna Doone? Let alone one of his poems. But 'Lorna Doone' has been continually in print since 1869, has inspired 10 filmed versions, at least one TV series, and a musical. In fact the first movie version was Maurice Tourner's silent film of 1922. Set in the reign of Charles II and James II, the novel is c...

                               By   Allan Bunyan (2021)                                     Photo of Taunton Castle , by Chris Jeanes, 2007,  courtesy of Wikipedia Commons and the photographer.  As I am hoping to visit Taunton and Bridgewater next month, thought that would start reading up about the history of Somerset during the 17th century, and this is the first book that I have chosen . 'Somerset A Troubled Century 1600-1699 ' is heartily recommended. The author has a great knowledge of the county,  has done some serious research, and the book is well footnoted. Some published local history work can be anecdote driven, even gossipy,  or just swamped with obscure details. This book demonstrates what can be achieved in the field, being both very informative, readable and  useful...

                 Monmouth biography by Laura Brennan, Pen & Sword Books                      This biography came out in 2018 and now available on kindle. Only two years after Anna Keay's extensive biography 'The Duke of Monmouth- The Last Royal Rebel'. I treated myself to the hardback version and noticed straight away it seems quite short, 133 pages text  ( excluding index and bibliography). The book has attracted some criticism due to errors, typos and poor editing. Which is a shame, because there is some valuable questions raised about the Duke of Monmouth and the 1685 Rebellion.   Although titled 'Life and Rebellion' , the book is  not a standard biography. The life of James, born in Rotterdam in 1649, to Lucy Walter, mistress to the young Charles II in exile and uncrowned, his initial promotion and rise to a leading Restoration figure,  even as illegitimat...