Faith and Treason

For most Americans, Guy Fawkes is known to us more from that movie "V for Vendetta" then for anything else. Guy Fawkes Day on 5 November is weird sort of a holiday as any when people of Britain lit a bonfire and roast an effigy of this fellow over it. When I was staying in a small town of Franley, England, I was surprised to learned that Fawkes family still exists and control much of the land around. So I read this book and discovered it to be somewhat of a page-turner. This book is about the plot to blow up both Houses of Parliament and King James I. Roman Catholics of Britain was getting desperate over increasingly restrictive measures taken by King and Parliament so a group of them decided to take matter in their own hands. Guy Fawkes was the leader of that plot and he had both religious and political motivations to do so. The book proves to be clearly written and highly informative on why, how and who was involved in this plot. This was supposed to take place on 5 November 1605 but the plotters were betrayed and although they came close, it was not good enough. The entire historical episode read like a detective story. It also had major importance in its aftermath as well for the Catholics of Britain who found themselves even more restricted. The author, Antonia Fraser who have already written several superb books on British history, scored again with this book. I found the book to be informative and easy to understand the complex and slightly weird story behind this plot that easily could have been one of the greatest terrorist attacks in history. The author's style of writing is appealing to most casual and veteran readers of history. Book come highly recommended to anyone interested in this historical incident and its cultural significant. I believed this is the new title and edition of Faith and Treason that was published back in 1996.

As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. In the present day come November 5th we all look forward to a firework display and a bonfire on which to burn the effigy of someone called Guy Fawkes while enjoying a roast potato, some of mum's parkin and cinder toffee. But who is the man called Guy Fawkes and what did he do that was so bad that we have to burn him every `Bonfire Night.' Guy Fawkes was born in the city of York, less than 20 miles from where I live. He has always been attributed with the leadership of a group of men who plotted to blow up the Houses of parliament on November 5th 1605. Their motives were both political and religious. Even today many such similar deeds are carried out or attempted in the name of one religion or another. A damning indication that man very rarely learns from his mistakes. Antonia Fraser is an accomplished and much read historical author with many awards for her writing skills and she has the consummate skill to be able to make the book read like a modern day detective novel, yet in no way prejudicing the factual historical content of the events that led up to the plot being foiled literally at the last moment.

In addition to being a great account of an historical incident from the early C17, this book lays a foundation for understanding English history into the 20th Century. The first chapters deal with the succession of James IV of Scotland to the English crown (the start of union between England and Scotland), and how this was engineered to avoid a catholic monarch. The book clearly articulates how the rights of the Roman Catholic minority were suppressed (Fraser's other books, recounting the lives of Mary and Elizabeth put this in context. Catholic suppression of Protestants under Mary was far more brutal and resulted in more executions). The policy of religious intolerance resulted in the emergence of a complex terrorist plot. The book leaves a fascinating question unresolved - was the plot portrayed from within? The end of the plotters is recounted in gruesome detail, from their initial interrogation (the impact of torture on Guy Fawkes is clearly evidenced by the degeneration of his flowing signature to a mere scrawl) to ritual execution. This text also provides an excellent backdrop to understanding some of the events that lead to the English Civil war. Further suppression of religion (this time the Puritans, who resented any hint of a return to catholic practices (the pilgrim farthers immigrated to America), and ongoing resentment of the Catholic faith in England. The actions of the plotters had a lasting impact on Catholics in the UK. Catholic men could not hold office (even an army commission) and were not given the vote until the 19th Century. Edward VIII had to abdicate (in part) for marrying a catholic in the 20th century! This book covers a key period of English history (transition from Tudor to Stuart) in an exciting way and provides a foundation for a better understanding of the next several hundred years.

This book is nothing less than what we have come to expect from Lady Antonia Fraser. It is historically accurate down to the last detail, it is awfully interesting, it is learned and readable, it is food for thought - serious thought. At the end of the book, I wept - the story is so terrible and so moving. Living, as we are, in a time where racial and religious intolerance still thrive, these men's plight, their desperate (if morally questionable) course of action, and the utter misery in which their fellow Catholics were living, should make us all think. In superbly depicting for us this terrible and fascinating episode, Antonia Fraser leads us to further depths of understanding.

Though not a novel, it reads smooth and easy for an historical work. Fraser's great strength is examining all aspects and leaves no stone unturned, especially looking at the aftermath and its legacy. The "plot" begins with the head of the nation being deceitful and ends with his aides putting the right "spin" on events.