Recent studies of particular areas during the Civil War have shown how kinship and social and educational ties, far from reinforcing county isolationism, frequently drew inhabitants into a far wider network and divided existing loyalties. Following this approach, Dr Warmington's examination of the history of Gloucestershire during the period begins with the descent into war between 1640 and 1642, showing how the two sides formed and why the Parliamentarians had the more durable war machine. He goes on to consider the anarchic situation between 1645 and 1649 and the series of new experiments...