By Paul Carrier
The English Civil War claimed the life of King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649. Various forms of government followed until the monarchy was restored in 1660 under Charles II, son of the late king. That year, Parliament pardoned many criminals for their actions during and after the Civil War, but not the so-called “regicides’ who had been directly involved in the death of Charles I.
In Act of Oblivion, prolific author Robert Harris fictionalizes the story of two real-life regicides, Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, William Goffe, who had fought with Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians in their war against the Royalists.
With the monarchy’s return, Whalley and Goffe fled to New England, where they were hounded by Royalists determined to ship them off to England for what would assuredly be a gruesome execution.
Anyone can easily determine, online, whether the king’s men succeeded in tracking down their prey. But no matter. Harris tells the tale with such gusto, nuanced characterizations and impressive period detail that Act of Oblivion is a compelling read even for those already familiar with the denouement.
Harris sticks to the historical record regarding key players, dates and events, but this is fiction, after all, and some speculative liberties are taken.
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