4.5 rounded up to 5. A first rate narrative history of the period. I have quibbles with some of the details, but this is a splendidly written, highly readable account of these turbulent, confused, and confusing years. It makes a tremendous complement to Anna Keay's outstanding 2022 book, Restless Republic. She gives a powerful impression of the 1650s via a series of beautifully-written vignettes of fascinating people. Cobb's more 'traditional' history of the whole period provides a wonderful framework within which to situate Keay's work.
As a side note, I have a particular interest in Sir Thomas Fairfax, and I deeply appreciate the picture of Fairfax that emerges from Cobb's work. Although he nowhere gives a narrative account or summary of Fairfax - like everyone else, he simply appears when he has a significant role in the unfolding events - Cobb works a quiet revolution through his overall portrayal of Fairfax. Rather than the cliched account of Fairfax as a strong commander who was a bit dim and out of his depth when it came to politics, Cobb's Fairfax is consistent throughout. In politics, as in battles and sieges, Fairfax emerges as someone who seeks the most efficient way to achieve what he considers to be the primary objectives. He refuses to be sidelined by what he considers to be secondary matters, and he will not take actions that would jeopardize those primary objectives. I think this is absolutely spot on - and I wonder if it is because Cobb has been a military man himself that he is able to offer this (to me) much more convincing account of what made Fairfax tick during those crucial years.
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