Behemoth: The History of the Causes of the Civil Wars of England

Behemoth recounts the English Civil Wars of 1642-1651 through a dialogue between two characters, a teacher and student. The teacher explains the political, religious and social factors that led to the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament. The work takes its structure from actual conversations Hobbes had while tutoring the future Charles II during their exile in Paris. Through the dialogue format, it examines the role of religious sects, Parliamentary powers, and competing theories of sovereignty in sparking the wars. The text moves chronologically from the early reign of Charles I through the rise of Oliver Cromwell and the establishment of the Commonwealth. Hobbes pays particular attention to how different interpretations of law, religion and political authority contributed to the breakdown of order. As a companion to Hobbes' political treatise Leviathan, Behemoth demonstrates how abstract theories of government play out in real historical events. The work stands as both a historical account and a warning about the dangers of challenging established sovereign power.

Readers appreciate Hobbes' firsthand perspective on the English Civil War, with many noting his detailed analysis of how religious disagreements and parliamentary conflicts led to war. Several reviewers on Goodreads highlight his clear writing style compared to Leviathan. Common praise focuses on Hobbes' argument that democracy can lead to instability, which readers find relevant to modern politics. One Amazon reviewer noted: "His warnings about factionalism remain pertinent today." Critics point out the dialogue format makes the text harder to follow than a straightforward historical account. Some readers find Hobbes' monarchist position too extreme and his criticism of Parliament one-sided. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Most negative reviews center on the book's density and archaic language. As one Goodreads reviewer stated: "Important ideas buried in difficult 17th century prose - not for casual readers."

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The World Turned Upside Down by Christopher Hill An examination of radical political and religious movements during the English Civil War and their influence on social structures.

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes A philosophical treatise that builds upon the themes in Behemoth to explore the nature of government, social contracts, and civil society.

The Causes of the English Civil War by Conrad Russell A structural analysis of the political, religious, and economic factors that led to the breakdown of government in 1640s England.

The English Civil War: A Military History by Peter Gaunt A chronological study of the military campaigns, strategies, and battlefield decisions that shaped the outcome of the English Civil War.

🔷 Unlike Hobbes' more famous work "Leviathan," this book was written as a dialogue between characters named "A" and "B," making it more accessible to general readers of the time. 🔷 The book was so controversial that it was initially banned upon completion in 1668, and Hobbes had to wait until 1679 to see it published—the year of his death. 🔷 Hobbes wrote this historical analysis of the English Civil War while in exile in Paris, where he had fled due to fears about his own safety during the conflict he was chronicling. 🔷 The work directly challenges the traditional view that Parliament was defending ancient English liberties, instead arguing that these "ancient rights" were largely fictional inventions. 🔷 In naming the book "Behemoth," Hobbes created a deliberate parallel with his earlier work "Leviathan"—both names referring to biblical monsters, with Behemoth representing chaos on land as Leviathan did in the sea.