The Wolfson History Prize Shortlist: Devil-Land by Clare Jackson

 The Wolfson History Prize

Shortlist 2022

Witch-hunts, fallen statues and Britain’s most turbulent century among 

Wolfson History Prize 2022 shortlist.

Six authors shortlisted for increased £75k prize fund as prize celebrates its 50th anniversary
Shortlisted books explore the impact faith has had on our collective history, and examines divided societies through time. Books on Ottoman Empire, witchcraft, parish churches and the rise and fall of statues demonstrate breadth of historical writing.

On Thursday 21 April. London. The Wolfson History Prize, the UK’s most prestigious history writing prize, revealed its shortlist for 2022. The prize, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, showcases the best accessible historical non-fiction titles from the previous year.

The six shortlisted titles cover a range of socio-political themes, with the influence of religion appearing across a number of the books in contention for the UK’s most valuable history prize.

Topics featured in the shortlist include: witch-hunting and a society in disarray in 17th-century Massachusetts, the century leading up to the Glorious Revolution from the perspective of Britain’s European neighbours, the development of ideas about God through history, the role of the church in Medieval communities, the story of the Ottoman dynasty over 700 years, and what fallen statues tell us about historical memory.

The books shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2022 are:

The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs by Marc David Baer (Basic Books)
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill (Allen Lane)
Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 by Clare Jackson (Allen Lane)
Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme (Yale University Press)
God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou (Picador)
Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History by Alex von Tunzelmann (Headline)

Several of the shortlisted titles explore the importance of religion throughout the centuries, discussing the wider implications of faith on retellings of our collective history. Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme is an engaging account of parish churches and their role in Medieval communities, demonstrating the presence of religion at every point in a human life, from birth to coming of age, from marriage to death. Francesca Stavrakopoulou’s God: An Anatomy is an original and in-depth exploration of the concept of God, using an examination of God’s physicality to shed new light on the development of monotheistic religions – and Western culture more broadly. In The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs, Marc David Baer reflects on how the multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire managed to hold swathes of Europe for seven centuries, and how religious tolerance and cultural innovation shaped the landscape of East and West through to the present day.

Other books included in the shortlist demonstrate that modern social and political divisions are nothing new, reflecting on different times of crisis across the centuries. In Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688, Clare Jackson studies European perceptions of Britain during the turbulent and radical years of the Stuart dynasty, during which civil war and regicide played out against a backdrop of devastating fires, treasonous plots and deadly disease. The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill also explores a society in turmoil, following one family in Springfield, Massachusetts as the battle between religion and enlightenment breeds paranoia, anger and terror with the onset of a series of witch-hunts.

Finally, Fallen Idols: Twelve Status That Made History by Alex von Tunzelmann highlights the significance of history to modern life, considering how statues define our history, showing that their removal is nothing new, and questioning what statues tell us about how views of the past change over time.

Judges’ comments on the Wolfson History Prize 2022 Shortlist:

The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs by Marc David Baer

‘A hugely impressive sweeping narrative. Covering seven centuries, this book adds a new perspective to global history by emphasising the role of this longstanding and important dynasty.’

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill

‘A riveting micro-history, brilliantly set within the broader social and cultural history of witchcraft. Drawing on previously neglected source material, this book is elegantly written and full of intelligent analysis.’

Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 by Clare Jackson

‘A masterpiece that will change our view of the 17th century. Exciting and well-written, it provides fresh insights by looking at England through European eyes.’

Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme

‘An engaging and often moving account of how religious life was woven into people’s everyday experiences from Anglo-Saxon times to the Reformation. A sparkling book.’

God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou

‘Original and courageous. This ambitious yet readable discussion of the physicality of God enhances our understanding of the history of monotheistic religions and Western culture.’

Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History by Alex von Tunzelmann

‘Intelligent, illuminating and thoroughly enjoyable. A well-researched book that uses carefully chosen case studies to shed light on a topic of contemporary debate.’

The winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2022 will be announced on Wednesday 22 June 2022 in a ceremony at the Wallace Collection in London. To mark the 50th anniversary of the prize, the total fund has been increased to £75,000, with the winner being awarded £50,000 and each of the shortlisted authors receiving £5,000.

The Wolfson History Prize 2022 shortlisted authors will discuss their books and historical writing in a special edition of BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking in June, with details to follow at a later date. Prize alumni will also join historians in conversation at a Wolfson History Prize anniversary event at Hay Festival on Wednesday 1 June at 7pm, further information can be found here.

The Wolfson History Prize is run and awarded by the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity that awards grants in the fields of science, health, heritage, humanities & the arts. The Wolfson History Prize 2021 was won by Sudhir Hazareesingh, for Black Spartacus:The Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture, an in-depth exploration of the leader and hero of the Haitian Revolution.

 Chair of the judges, David Cannadine, commented: 

“This year’s Wolfson History Prize shortlist once again showcases the diversity and vigour of history writing in the UK. The judges were impressed by the variety, originality, and quality of research demonstrated by the six shortlisted books. As well as being engaging reads, they are all highly deserving of a place in the eminent roll call of authors celebrated by the prize over the past fifty years.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, which awards the prize, said of the shortlist: 

“We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Wolfson History Prize 2022, reflecting the very best historical writing in the UK today. This year marks fifty years of the Wolfson History Prize and its mission – to champion the importance of high-quality, accessible history writing – is as critical now as it has ever been. This past year has revealed much about how history can be valued, contested and re-evaluated. It has also revealed why it is vital for us to engage carefully and thoughtfully with the experiences of those who came before us: a reminder of the importance of history to our lives.

“Whether or not you agree with their arguments, these six books will inspire and provoke. They offer the opportunity to learn more about what mattered to previous societies and to reflect on the significance of the past to current concerns and debates. The books shortlisted this year demonstrate that turbulent times are nothing new and show how different societies have dealt with such challenges.”

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As part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Wolfson History Prize this year, it is my pleasure to bring you my thoughts on the shortlisted title Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 by Clare Jackson.

Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 by Clare Jackson.

Published 30th September 2021 by Allen Lane.

From the cover of the book:

A ground-breaking portrait of the most turbulent century in English history.

Among foreign observers, seventeenth-century England was known as 'Devil-Land': a diabolical country of fallen angels, torn apart by seditious rebellion, religious extremism and royal collapse. Clare Jackson's dazzling, original account of English history's most turbulent and radical era tells the story of a nation in a state of near continual crisis.

As an unmarried heretic with no heir, Elizabeth I was regarded with horror by Catholic Europe, while her Stuart successors, James I and Charles I, were seen as impecunious and incompetent, unable to manage their three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. The traumatic civil wars, regicide and a republican Commonwealth were followed by the floundering, foreign-leaning rule of Charles II and his brother, James II, before William of Orange invaded England with a Dutch army and a new order was imposed.

Devil-Land reveals England as, in many ways, a 'failed state': endemically unstable and rocked by devastating events from the Gunpowder Plot to the Great Fire of London. Catastrophe nevertheless bred creativity, and Jackson makes brilliant use of eyewitness accounts - many penned by stupefied foreigners - to dramatize her great story. Starting on the eve of the Spanish Armada's descent in 1588 and concluding with a not-so 'Glorious Revolution' a hundred years later, Devil-Land is a spectacular reinterpretation of England's vexed and enthralling past.

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Where to start? Well, if you are looking for an eminently readable reference work that takes you through the turmoil of English politics from the doomed invasion of the Spanish Armada during the reign of Elizabeth I, all the way through to the ushering in of a new era under William and Mary following the Glorious Revolution, then this is the book you need on your reading pile. Don't be put off by its heft, because I promise you will find this very engaging - perhaps not for a cover to cover read in one fell swoop, but certainly as something to lap up in big gluts of compelling historical detail.

It's worth noting that the title of this book Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 very much implies a focus on the action of outward pressures on England during this period, and how it affected the wheels within wheels of court politics and international relations. This is precisely what Clare Jackson deftly examines here, navigating through these complex times and urging you to consider the many happenings, motivations and scheming that influenced how history played out. For me, one of the most significant events of this period is the impact of Scotland changing its status from a foreign power to a front and centre 'united' partner under James I, so I found this section particularly interesting. This is something that I have been looking at in quite a different way since reading K.M Maitland's excellent, albeit fictional, Daniel Pursglove series, so it was great to read something that looks at the factual events of the time in such an easily digestible way. 

Religion arguably dominates events between 1588 and 1688, and Jackson explores this in detail, but she also looks into many other aspects of what made this time so turbulent, including the never-ending machinations of the game of thrones, the attitudes of the populace, and military power - all very pertinent considering this period incorporates the English Civil War too.

I think you do need to have a good handle on the social and political happenings of the years covered by this fascinating book to get the best out of it, but it is one to treasure if you love to delve into the past. The depth of knowledge Jackson shows in her writing makes this an impressive work on an epic scale. I found myself getting lost down many a rabbit hole while absorbing what she has to say about the momentous events that mark these years as so stormy, which is exactly what I want from a book of this kind.

This is a beautiful quality book, with vivid colour illustrations, maps, and extensive family trees, all of which make me very happy indeed. There are a number of appendices, with a wealth of information and references to explore once you have finished with this book too. This is one which I will be drawn back to time and time again, which makes it a winner for me, whether or not it wins the coveted Wolfson History Prize this year or not. Highly recommended!

Update: I am very pleased to report that this title did indeed win the coveted award this year! A truly worthy winner! 

Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688 is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Midas Public Relations for sending me a copy on this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.

About the author:

Clare Jackson is the Senior Tutor of Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. She has presented a number of highly successful programmes on the Stuart dynasty for the BBC and is the author of Charles II in the Penguin Monarchs series.