A thrilling political history about the months that brought England to the cusp of civil war, from the acclaimed author of The Blazing World

'Healey has done it again. The Blood in Winter is history as it should be told, where new light is cast upon one of the most dramatic years in British history. Shaped by meticulous research and a narrative worthy of any political thriller, the result is masterful' ALICE LOXTON

In 1641, England exits a plague-ridden and unstable summer having reached a semblance of peace: the English and Scottish armies have disbanded, legislation has passed to ensure Parliament will continue to sit and the people are tentatively optimistic. Radical politicians congratulate themselves on a stunning political victory. Royal servants are coming to accept an altered future.

But King Charles I is not satisfied with peace – he wants revenge.

So begins England's winter of discontent. As revolutionary sects of London begin to generate new ideas about democracy, as radical new religious groups seek power and as Ireland explodes into revolt, Charles hatches a plan to restore his absolute rule. On 4 January 1642 he marches on Westminster, seeking to arrest five Members of Parliament – and so sets in motion a series of events that will lead to bloodshed and war, changing a nation forever.

The Blood in Winter tells the story of an English people's great political awakening, and of a nation that splintered into bloodshed at a terrifying speed. Jonathan Healey utilises meticulous archival research to recreate the claustrophobic atmosphere of the day, with rowdy protestors in the streets and London blanketed in coal smoke. From the radical enclaves of public houses to a king forced from his capital by the people, it is a story of remarkable but flawed characters, all faced with unpalatable choices, and a frightening picture of a society in profound distress.