Gunpowder: The Players Behind the Plot

The 1605 Catholic plot to blow up King and Parliament is one of the great real-life dramas in British history - and the unfortunate Guy Fawkes was just one member of its huge cast. Set against a backdrop of nationalist tension and medieval paranoia, the tentacles of conspiracy encompassed noblemen and priests, women and lawyers, servants and spies. The action swings from the heart of London to the rural Midlands, but in such a climate of ambiguity and intrigue, the borders between plotter and politician became less and less clearly defined. Gunpowder tells the story of the events of Oct 1605 to May 1606 through its key players and the original documentary evidence in which they appear. Illustrated with contemporary portraits, engravings and original, unpublished documents, this perilous and fragmented world challenges our perception of the past.