A pause in time: history writers and the regicide of Charles I

Abstract

Abstract The unprecedented trial and execution of Charles I left a nation aghast and bewildered. This article examines how the English reacted to such a disruptive event, namely how the regicide changed ideas of time and the future. Using a diachronic approach, this article examines the work of three history writers and the temporalities embedded within their narratives. Recognizing the significance of the regicide as a singular moment in time, these writers adapted their work to incorporate a sense of changed times. By envisioning futures in their texts, these histories informed but also circumscribed the world views of their readers.