The Restless Republic - A good read

Keay, Anna   The Restless Republic; Britain without a crown. London; William Collins, 2022. (This book was shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction, 2022.)

Dr Keay is an historian who has a particular interest in the 17th century. In this study she covers the period when Britain was without a resident monarch and became a republic, namely 1649-1660. In a lively, engaging account, she uses the technique of telling the story of the period through the lives of a range of people from all walks of life. One of these is Marchamont Nedham, an early newspaperman, who was to edit ‘Mercurius Politicus’ for the Council of State on the advice of John Milton and with the possible support of William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons. Nedham himself believed that John Bradshaw, President of the Council of State was responsible for his gaining his freedom from prison and the opportunity to work for the parliamentary cause. Nedham had worked variously for the royalists and parliament in the past. Now he was to be a salaried official at £100 a year, producing a weekly newspaper that would support the Commonwealth.

The first edition of ‘Mercurius Politicus’ appeared on the streets 1st June 1650. Nedham, a newspaperman to his fingertips, used humour, scurrility and his tabloid talents to support and propagandise on behalf of his new masters. The newssheet continued to be published until May 1660.

In her book Keay has produced an enticing account of the history of an early journal which should be of interest to those in the Group who are attracted to the history of publishing and of newspapers.

Helen Davies

November 2023