'A profound and scholarly account of the Levellers - the nonconformist republican radicals who clashed first with the monarch and then with Oliver Cromwell himself. The book combines the military-political history of the English revolution with an account of the social and ideological struggles that produced, out of the backstreets of 17th-century London, one of modernity's first revolutionary social movements.' --Paul Mason, Guardian Books of the Year 2016 'Rees likes his subjects, as should anyone who values democracy and social justice. This is not just a readable narrative, explaining the development of the Levellers, but an inspirational romance for the political left, and a timely one. It's a remarkable story because its actors are remarkable.' --Malcolm Gaskill, Financial Times 'A fast-paced and tightly focused narrative which puts the Levellers centre stage in the English Revolution; essential reading for all those interested in history and radical politics' --Ariel Hessayon, Goldsmiths University of London

John Rees is a broadcaster and writer who is a national officer of the Stop the War Coalition (UK) and a member of the editorial board of Counterfire (www.counterfire.org). He is the writer and presenter of the political history series Timeline. In 2011 he participated in the Egyptian Revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak and his book on the Arab Revolutions, 'The People Demand, a short history of the Arab Revolutions'was co-written with Joseph Daher. He is currently pursuing doctoral research on the Levellers and the English Revolution at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2006, John Pilger said: "I know of few who speak and write more wisely of the danger we face from rapacious power, and what we should do about it, than John Rees".