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Preview
  • Killers of the King

  • The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I
  • By: Charles Spencer
  • Narrated by: Richard Trinder
  • Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (68 ratings)

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Killers of the King

By: Charles Spencer
Narrated by: Richard Trinder
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents Killers of the King by Charles Spencer, read by Richard Trinder.

Charles Spencer tells the shocking stories and fascinating fates of the men who signed Charles I’s death warrant in this Sunday Times bestseller

'Seamless, pacy and riveting ... exceptional' ALISON WEIR
'The virtues of a thriller and of scholarship are potently combined' TOM HOLLAND
'Outstanding: a thrilling tale of retribution and bloody sacrifice' JESSIE CHILDS
__________________
January, 1649. After seven years of fighting in the bloodiest war in Britain’s history, Parliament faced a problem: what to do with a defeated king, a king who refused to surrender?

Parliamentarians resolved to do the unthinkable, to disregard the Divine Right of Kings and hold Charles I to account for the appalling suffering and slaughter endured by his people. On an icy winter’s day on a scaffold outside Whitehall, the King of England was executed.

When the dead king’s son, Charles II, was restored to the throne, he set about enacting a deadly wave of retribution against all those – the lawyers, the judges, the officers on the scaffold – responsible for his father’s death.

Bestselling historian Charles Spencer explores this violent clash of ideals through the individuals whose fates were determined by that one, momentous decision. A powerful tale of revenge from the dark heart of royal history and a fascinating insight into the dangers of political and religious allegiance in Stuart England, these are the shocking stories of the men who dared to kill a king.

©2014 Charles Spencer (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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What listeners say about Killers of the King

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even better 2nd time round

this is my 2nd time listening, it made me go back read the history..
Well written
Well narrated
Well done

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Dramatic story drily told

Like many I came to this from Robert Harris’s ‘Act of Oblivion’. While this book does what it says on the cover and has a lot of detail, it doesn’t quite capture the tension and excitement of such a dramatic period of history.

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1 person found this helpful

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Entertaining summary and account of the Cromwell regime

This is a great work to introduce people to the Cromwell regime and to understand what happened to the regicides after his death.
There is a great deal of detail about the lives of those men who sat in judgment of Charles I, and who signed his death warrant. From those who chose to stand and die a martyr’s death, those who collaborated, to those who chose to flee either to Europe or the New World.

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8 people found this helpful

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Absolutely cracking

If like me you’ve had this recommendation on your Audible list and put off reading it can I heartily recommend that you give it a go. A fascinating and brilliantly read look at the aftermath of the death of Charles 1.

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Excellent book with great narration

Fancinating insight into the Regicides of Charles I and leaves you wanting to explore other avenues of this topic. The narration by Richard Trinder is really listenable and easy on the ears. Overall, great book.

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A fabulous read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story gives a full account from the Civil War through King Charles I’s flight around the country, to his trial and then on to the hunt for the regicides ten or so years later. It is beautifully written and read, and absolutely gripping. Thank you Charles Spencer for a very fulfilling, if somewhat terrifying, experience.

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Fascinating book ….

I was always fascinated by the story of how Charles II revenged all those who condemned his father Charles I
This book is incredibly well researched and fascinating IF you like history and won’t get bored by dates, facts and details! It took me a while until I was used to the narrator but once you get used to him you simply can’t stop listening as the book is fascinating!!!

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Really Interesting Listen

As someone who is doing my family history it is wise I have discovered to learn of what my ancestors did at the time. I already purchased a book of Earl Spencer's, and found this not just a delight to listen to but learn things of the period I had not learned before.

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Hadley

I visited Hadley graveyard and found the grave of the man who ‘sheltered the regicides’. It’s an enthralling story we’ll rehearsed in this book of what might have beens!

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Real English history as thrilling as a novel

I came to this book after listening to the superb ‘Act of Oblivion’ by Robert Harris (as it is one of the books credited by Harris as a research source). It didn’t disappoint. Loved every minute. If you think history is dull, this book will change your mind. Fascinating detail and colour, heroism, intrigue, revenge, sadism - it’s all here. Highly recommended.

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7 people found this helpful