Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 is the story of one significant event in the context of the tremendous tension between Catholics and Protestants at the beginning of the 17th century in England. It goes without saying that one should come away feeling as though they understand all sides of the dispute. This book will not get you there. It is notably tilted toward the Catholics. You will need to augment this text with at least one other to fully understand what happened. That said, the story is well told from the Catholic perspective. Recommended. (I would have shaved another 1/2 star if possible, but not a whole star.)

Antonia Fraser has written a very thorough and engaging exploration of the Gunpowder Plot, a fascinating episode in English history. She provides us with background history regarding the reign of Elizabeth I and the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots. She also gives us excellent background on the person of James I of Great Britain, James VI of Scotland. King James is a fascinating character with exceptional diplomatic and intellectual skills. Fraser points out that James' diplomatic skills included hints that he would be more tolerant of the Roman Catholics in England than was Queen Elizabeth, giving the English Catholics the impression that years of repression may be over and restrictions upon their freedom of faith would be lifted. Fraser also gives an in-depth study of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot including family trees to demonstrate that this was a tightly knit social network of relatives and in-laws that hatched the Gunpowder Plot.Her chapter on the unfolding and confounding of the plot is very good reading. A mysterious note tips off a minor nobleman who in turn tips off those at the highest levels of government. They capture suspicious Guy Fawkes and discover a plot to blow up the Parliament in Westminster Palace and the Royal Family of James I with 36 barrels of gunpowder placed in the cellar.Fraser also relates how those innocent persons who lived in this social network were also swept up in the reactions to the failed plot. She ends the story with exploration of the role of the Protestant government in using the failed plot to bring about even greater repression and oversight of the Roman Catholic community in England as well as growing intolerance from the common people toward Roman Catholics.The character of Guy Fawkes looms large in the minds of those who know about the Gunpowder Plot, however Fraser certainly puts Fawkes and his role in perspective since he plays a significant but not a central role in the planning and execution of the failed plot. She also connects Gay Fawkes Day on November 5th to Celtic bonfire celebrations.Robert Catesby, a devoted Catholic and charismatic leader of the plot, is actually a fare more central figure to the action than was Guy Fawkes. Fawkes was captured first and under torture reveals much about the plot and the other conspirators. Fraser spends much time telling of how torture was conducted but also the common law around the use of torture. This makes for fascinating reading in light of recent debate within the United States about whether or not water boarding is considered a torture and who may and may not authorize its use for which specific pieces of information.Fraser is at her best when she offers alternative interpretations of the entire action and indicates how the government of James I could use the gunpowder plot to enforce even greater restrictions and punishments against the Roman Catholic community in England. The focus of this counter interpretation is Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, King James' chief minister. The trials are overseen by the Crown Prosecutor, Sir Edward Coke, conducted his interrogations and trials with a fervor since he suspected the Catholics of supporting the Pope over their King and as supporting an invasion of England by a Catholic monarch.Antonia Fraser is very judicious and fair as she explores multiple interpretations of the actions that took place in this plot and the advantage to the government in discovering the plot and then enforcing even more restrictions upon the Catholic citizens. Fraser is sympathetic to the Catholics for she documents that the net may have been cast too wide and the grievances of the Catholics were all too real. The struggle to worship in freedom is a major theme that she explores.Fraser does paint a picture of English Catholic recusant life at the end of the sixteenth century. Their homes have hidden passages for hiding priests and the braver of the Catholic women is highly admirable. In the final chapters she fully develops governmental over-reach in the trial and execution of the Jesuit Secretary for England, Father Garnet, a personality of high intelligence and moral character.The book is highly readable and is highly recommended.

My real interest is Shakespeare, and I want to know more about the politics of the time, attitudes toward religion, and anything else that might be reflected in the plays and poems. Understanding the reasons for the Gunpowder Plot certainly illuminate the thinking of that time.This book tells an interesting story, and it also helped clarify my thinking about that era.

My review of this book consists of three major elements:First, the story and the history is much more interesting than I had anticipated. I've been sort of "grazing" British history and got this book because it certainly qualified. As Fraser notes, Bonfire night isn't much in the U.S. having been usurped by Halloween and Thanksgiving, and I'd only vaguely heard of Guy Fawkes. The "true" story isn't as simple and uninteresting as "Disgruntled Guy Fawkes tries to blow up Parliament and gets caught," as per some popular stories. I've read a lot about Henry VIII and this story very much complements his story- Henry separates the English church from the one in Rome, setting off a chain of events that lasted for years (even to this day)- This book is about one of those events. If you are at all interested in following the consequences of actions through history, you'll like this.Which leads to my second point- Fraser does a wonderful job of putting the story in perspective. Not only does she inform you as to the history, culture, sociology (role of women in particular) and the religious environment that led to the plot to blow up James I, his heirs, and Parliament (and likely some innocent pigeons), but she also indicates how the plot still affects current thinking and events (citing such examples as Nelson Mandela).Finally, she does a great job with the story itself. Given the large cast of characters, the fact that I said "Wait, who is that again?" only a few times is very much to her credit. The story is very thorough with numerous citations and explanations of her interpretations of historical actions.This book is about the gunpowder plot and not generally about James I- it is more about the effect that his broken promises had on the plot's development.As a side note- if Mel Gibson ever read this book, he'd make a movie out of it- I just can't figure out who he'd play... Not Guy Fawkes. Maybe Garnet? Maybe Cecil (but only if Gibson made him a complete good guy). Maybe Catesby (but have to make him a good guy, and change the story a bit...)

Fraser takes a good story but over analysis makes it a dull read. If she and stuck to the main plot line instead of constant story tangents it would flow better.

I've always wanted to learn more about the Gunpowder plot and I'm glad I chose this book. Its a balanced account and provides crucial context to the events. Highly recommended

The book is very good. It was not your fault that it arrived after Christmas. There was a backlog at the Post Office. Will use them again

My friend absolutly loved reading this book

Excellent and in great condition.