Act of Oblivion: The Sunday Times Bestseller

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The antagonist of Harris’s novel is a man by the name of Richard Nayler. The only fictional character among an otherwise historically accurate cast, Nayler is a royalist, a member of the Privy Council, loyal to the king, Charles II, and obsessively fixated on bringing the remaining regicides to justice. More than a decade after the execution of the king at the hands of Cromwell, Nayler has yet to lose his thirst for vengeance: Interested? Well, we’ve got more books similar to the Act of Oblivion to keep you occupied through term time! An absolutely stunning historical novel and a ripping crime thriller at the same time. I've been recommending it far and wide and buying it for people for Christmas! * Dead Good * a decisive moment happens in the English Civil War with the execution of King Charles I. 1660, Oliver Cromwell is dead having won the war but his short-lived Republic is over and the Restoration of the Monarchy has happened with Charles II installed as King of Britland. Parliament passes an “Act of Oblivion” which pardons everyone who committed crimes during the Civil War and subsequent Commonwealth period - except for 59 “Regicides” who signed their names on the King’s death warrant. VII. All things not excepted shall be pardoned by the general words of this act, as well as if particularly named.

August 1660: Lords reminded of Bills, including "The Act of General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion". [17] We may, then, appear to honor Acts of Oblivion more in breach than in observance. Yet at least one aspect of the Act of Oblivion—exercised by the Executive Branch alone—presents a live concern. This takes the form of executive gaslighting, which injures the collective memory in a way that is no less effective because it is more insidious than a direct Act of Oblivion. Robert Harris is one of my favourite authors, so a new book by him is always something to look forward to. This one sounded particularly interesting, dealing with a manhunt that takes place in 17th century New England, a setting Harris has never written about before. But the over-rating here! This is a favorite author for sure, mine too- but length, breadth, and continuity here? Way below par for Robert Harris. Below par for the complexity and length of copy too. My bar is high for the author of Munich, for all of those top notch Roman series based books etc. This one does not begin to rise to the midst of their quality. 2.5 stars and I cannot round it up.

Part of the novel is written from the perspective of Nayler and part from the points of view of Ned Whalley and Will Goffe. This means that the reader knows from the beginning exactly where Ned and Will have gone – they have crossed the Atlantic to America, to build new lives for themselves in the like-minded Puritan colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut. When Nayler arrives in pursuit, however, the two regicides are forced to move from one hiding place to another, never able to relax, knowing that they could be betrayed by anyone at any time.

XLVI. Bonds taken in his Majesty's name before May 1642 for securities of any his Majesty's receivers, not pardoned. &c. Few writers combine history, politics and excitement of a thriller as enthrallingly as Robert Harris does. * Sunday Times * The act is often viewed from the perspective of those who were not pardoned and thus condemned to death. However, the debate in Parliament continued almost every day for over two months and names were added and taken off the list of those who were not to be pardoned. Initially, there were only seven on the list: [6] [7] Thomas Harrison, William Say, John Jones Maesygarnedd, Thomas Scot, John Lisle, Cornelius Holland, and John Barkstead. On 7 June, the Commons, mindful of the Declaration of Breda, stated they as the Commons could add to the list others who would not be covered by the general pardon. They immediately added John Cooke, Andrew Broughton, Edward Dendy, and the "Two Persons who were upon the Scaffold in a Disguise" (i.e. the executioners). [8] On 8 June, the Commons voted "That the Number of Twenty, and no more, (other than those that are already excepted, or sat as Judges upon the late King's Majesty) shall be excepted out of the Act of general Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on them by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that purpose". [9] But now, ten years after Charles’ beheading, the royalists have returned to power. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, the fifty-nine men who signed the king’s death warrant and participated in his execution have been found guilty in absentia of high treason. Some of the Roundheads, including Oliver Cromwell, are already dead. Others have been captured, hung, drawn, and quartered. A few are imprisoned for life. But two have escaped to America by boat. The novel begins in America, with the protagonists (or antagonists depending on your viewpoint) Colonel Whalley and Colonel Goffe arriving to stay with Puritan supporters. They are haggard after weeks at sea and still reeling from their loss, and the separation of their families.Harris pays much attention to historical details throughout the novel. Dates, names, and locations are historically accurate to the true story of Whalley and Goffe story, with the above mentioned exception of the antagonist, Richard Nayler. August 1660 Lords reminded of Bills, British History On-line House of Commons Journal Volume 8 (www.british-history.ac.uk) VI. The like by reason of any Commission by the late or present King, or by Colour of any Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, or the late Protector, &c.