Portland Public Library

The king's city, a history of London during the Restoration : the city that transformed a nation, Don Jordan

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 473-502) and index

platesmapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

The king's city

bibliography

1020706966

Don Jordan

a history of London during the Restoration : the city that transformed a nation

"During the reign of Charles II, London was a city in flux. After years of civil war and political turmoil, England's capital became the center for major advances in the sciences, the theatre, architecture, trade, and ship-building, which paved the way for the creation of the British Empire. At the heart of this activity was the King, whose return to power from exile in 1660 lit the fuse for an explosion in activity in all spheres of city life. London flourished; its wealth, vibrancy, and success due to many figures famous today, including Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys, and John Dryden--and others whom history has overlooked until now. Throughout the quarter-century Charles was on the throne, London suffered several serious reverses: the plague in 1665, the Great Fire in 1666, and severe defeat in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, which brought about notable economic decline. But thanks to the genius and the resilience of the people of London, and the occasionally wavering stewardship of the King, the city rose from the ashes to become the economic capital of Europe"--Dust jacket flap

Part 1 (1660-1663): The years of optimism. A city of expectation ; The King comes in ; Theatrum redux! ; Something for everyone? ; Rivals ; The crowning of a king ; "Too great an honour for a trifle" ; Foreign adventures -- Part 2 (1664-1667): The years of disaster. Trade wars ; A new world of science ; The year of the flea ; Pestilence, war and fire ; The aftermath ; A star is born -- Part 3 (1667-1685): The years of turmoil. The threat from abroad ; New territories ; Law and order ; A spy in the family, in the Court and in the theatre ; Trading in people and money ; War and enterprise ; The mood of the city ; Coffee wars at home, real wars in the colonies ; City life ; The city convulsed ; The fall of Madam Creswell and the migration of criminals ; The city cowed, the city triumphant ; Death and legacy -- Appendix I: Thomas Mun, England's treasure ; Appendix II: The Navigation Act, 1660 ; Appendix III: Robert Boyle's Desiderata ; Appendix IV: Brief observations concerning trade and interest of money ; Appendix V: Notes on the formation of the Bank of England