Detailing the events between the death of Cromwell and the Restoration of the monarchy in Britain, historian Brian Manning, whose work has been highly praised by the late Christopher Hill, shows that the Restoration was by no means inevitable after Cromwell's death. He argues that there were great ideological and political battles fought over the future of Britain between 1658 and 1660. The strength of Manning's argument lies in the detail with which he evokes the political activity of ordinary groups of people in 17th century Britain. This is Marxist history at its very best.