The Complete Works of Gerrard Winstanley

This is the first edition of the complete works of Gerrard Winstanley (1609-76), the foremost radical English thinker and activist of the English Revolution. It is the only edition to observe the standards of modern scholarly editing. The editorial team combines the expertise of acclaimed prize-winning literary scholars and a leading historian of seventeenth-century England. It sets a new standard in the presentation of controversial prose of the period of the English Civil War. Its substantial introduction establishes Winstanley's distinctive contributions to political thought and radical religion and elucidates his literary achievements, while the annotation elucidates the wealth of his biblical allusion and his engagement with the politics of his day. This edition ensures Winstanley's standing as one of the most significant prose writers and radical thinkers of early modern England. All scholars and students of English literature, history, religion, and political thought will want to use this book.

VOLUME I; Acknowledgements and Permissions; Abbreviations; Editorial Procedures; Introduction; The Works; Several Pieces Gathered into One Volume: Set Forth in Five Books; VOLUME II; A Declaration to the Powers of England (The True Levellers Standard Advanced); A Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of England; A Letter to the Lord Fairfax, and his Councell of War; A Declaration of the Bloudie and Unchristian Actings of William Star and John Taylor; An Appeale to the House of Commons; A Watch-word to the City of London, and the Armie; A New-yeers Gift for the Parliament and Armie; Englands Spirit Unfoulded. Or an Incouragement to Take the Engagement; Fire in the Bush; A Vindication of those, whose Endeavors is Only to Make the Earth a Common Treasury, Called Diggers; An Appeale to All Englishmen; An Humble Request to the Ministers of both Universities, and to All Lawyers in Every Inns-a-Court; The Law of Freedom in a Platform: Or, True Magistracy Restored; Manuscripts Associated with Winstanley; Writings by Winstanley Appearing in other Publications; Commentary and Annotation; Index

Thomas Corns is Professor of English at Bangor University. His many publications include a seminal study of the political literature of the English Civil War and he is among the foremost Miltonists of his academic generation. With Gordon Campbell, he is the general editor of The Complete Works of John Milton (OUP, 2008 - ), and he is collaborating with David Loewenstein on the Paradise Lost volume. Ann Hughes is Professor of Early Modern History at Keele University. She is a leading historian of the politics, religion and culture of mid-seventeenth century England with particular interests currently in religion, gender and print culture. David Loewenstein is Marjorie and Lorin Tiefenthaler Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has published widely on early modern English literature, politics, and religion. He is editing Paradise Lost (in collaboration with Thomas Corns) for The Complete Works of John Milton. He is an Honored Scholar of the Milton Society of America.