Dissenters, Radicals, Heretics and Blasphemers: The Flame of Revolt That Shines Through English History

This new book also shows how a proud tradition of opposition in the face of abuse of power, repression, oppression or simply inertia of the part of the state has, ultimately, led to many positive changes. Sometimes these quite legitimate outcomes might not have been achieved but for the actions of the few, those who were prepared to stand out against such things as injustice, inequality, corruption, state-sponsored villainy or worse. This book also demonstrates how at different times in British history the state has reacted in different ways to perceived 'trouble causers', including in some instances by the use of extreme forms of violence, censorship and punishments. From the often questionable incidents of the past to the sometimes dubious workings of modern-day mechanisms for dealing with various forms of dissatisfaction, John Hostettler provides a first-rate account of such key matters as proportionality, citizen's rights, democratic processes and the ways in which these have been achieved or protected over the years. He also shows how the law itself has developed to protect people and to ensure public safety.

Table of Contents:
1. INTRODUCTION 2. EARLY CONFLICT OF RELIGION AND POLITICS 3. JOHN WYCLIFFE 4. RELIGIOUS MARTYRDOM 5. WAT TYLER AND THE PEASANTS' REVOLT 6. CROMWELL'S COMMONWEALTH AND PROTECTORATE 7. THE ISLAND BEDLAM 8. THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS 9. JOHN COOKE 10. JOHN MILTON 11. JOHN BUNYAN 12. DANIEL DEFOE 13. JOHN WILKES 14. TOM PAINE 15. WILLIAM WILBERFORCE 16. THOMAS HARDY AND THE TREASON TRIALS OF 1794 17. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT 18. THE PETERLOO MASSACRE 19. REFORM OR REVOLUTION 20. CHARTISM: JOHN FROST AND ERNEST JONES 21. THOMAS WAKLEY - AN ENEMY OF INJUSTICE 22. KEIR HARDIE 23. THE PANKHURSTS AND THE SUFFRAGETTES 24. MARIE STOPES 25. BATTLE OF CABLE STREET 26. CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT 27. MODERN REVOLT SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

About the Author :
John Hostettler is one of the UK's most acclaimed authors on English legal history and legal biography, whose works span a wide range of related topics. He was a practising solicitor in London for thirty-five years as well as undertaking political and civil liberties cases in Nigeria, Germany and Aden. His earlier books include several biographical and historical works and his books for Waterside Press include: Champions of the Rule of Law (2011); and Sir William Garrow (2010).

Review :
'This book is a glorious Molotov cocktail to be placed in the hands of every citizen and lobbed at the status quo... A brilliant and exhilarating work. A counter to the politics of passivity': Helena Kennedy QC