Characters from the Histories & Memoirs of the Seventeenth Century

This volume opens with a concise essay that explores how the seventeenth‑century writers coined the literary form of the “character.” It traces the early beginnings of the genre, examines its models in earlier works, and shows how figures like Clarendon helped shape it into a reliable way of recording public life. The discussion sets the stage for the vivid portraits that follow, offering listeners a clear sense of why these sketches mattered to their contemporaries.

The heart of the collection is a series of brief studies of the era’s most prominent personalities—kings, dukes, generals, poets, and theologians—drawn from the memoirs and histories of the time. Each entry preserves the voice of the original observer, giving a snapshot of ambition, conviction, or folly as seen through the eyes of those who lived alongside these figures. The range is striking, from the austere portrait of a monarch to the lively description of a court favourite.

Listening to these character sketches provides a window into the social and political fabric of a turbulent century. The immediacy of contemporary commentary brings the period’s drama to life, making the work an engaging companion for anyone curious about the people who shaped early modern England.