Professor John Walter
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Email
jwalter@essex.ac.uk -
Location
Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
I read history at the University of Cambridge. After a period as a Thouron scholar at the University of Pennsylvania where I took an MA in American History, I returned to Cambridge, where I held the Eileen Power Memorial Studentship in Social and Economic History, and undertook doctoral research on radical movements in the English Revolution and the tradition of popular protest in early modern England. I was appointed as Lecturer in History in 1976 and Professor in 2000. I research and publish in the field of early modern British history. My book on crowd actions in the English Revolution, Understanding Popular Violence in the English Revolution, completed with an award under the British Academy Humanities Research Board scheme, was awarded the Royal Historical Society’s Whitfield Prize. My book Covenanting Citizens: The Protestation Oath and Popular Political Culture in the English Revolution, completed with the award of a Leverhulme Major Fellowship, was awarded the 2017 Samuel Pepys prize. In 2017 was honoured to be presented with a festschrift edited by Michael J. Braddick & Phil Withington, Popular Culture And Political Agency in Early Modern England and Ireland: Essays in Honour of John Walter (Woodbridge, The Boydell Press, 2017). My central research interest is popular political culture in early modern England. This is research which has focused on crowd actions but which seeks to integrate the various branches of historical research social, economic, political and cultural. In this work I endeavour to bring together intensive archival research, often with a micro—historical focus, with theoretical interests in the nature of political society, the nature of early modern state and society, and the spaces therein for the exercise of popular political agency. This has resulted both in a series of articles, some of which have been collected in my 2006 Crowds and Popular Politics. I have a particular interest in popular political culture during the English Revolution on which I have published a series of articles and two monographs: Understanding Popular Violence in the English Revolution (1996) and Covenanting Citizens: The Protestation Oath and Popular Political Culture in the English Revolution (2017). My most recent work in this field seeks to re-integrate the sources and methodologies of social and cultural history employed in a social history of politics with a re-invigorated political history. Within this work, I am especially interested to think imaginatively about the forms and focus that political action might take beyond the politics of the crowd: hence my currents research interests extend to the politics of food and of gesture, on which I am currently publishing. I have in preparation an article on the handshake and the politics of touch in early modern England. Arising from my work on the history of food, my next book will be on the Tichborne Dole and its changing meaning from its medieval inception to the present day. Apparently first noted in the painting of 1670/1, myth claims the dole to have originated in a 12th century bequest which carried a curse on the Tichborne family, if ever the family failed to distribute the dole. This curse which threatened no male heirs becomes entangled in the nineteenth century with the cause célèbre of the Tichborne Claimant. The book traces the related fortunes of family and Dole up to the present day, the changing meanings and representations of the Dole (including in one of the first British early silent films), and the way it comes to be understood, especially after World War I, to stand for a particular vision of Englishness.
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Early modern British history (political, social, religious, cultural, economic)
Early modern political culture that seek to integrate social or cultural history with political history
Teaching and supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: History
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 30/3/2015
Degree subject: History
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 24/3/2015
Degree subject: History
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 13/5/2014
Degree subject: History
Degree type: Master of Arts (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 16/4/2012
Publications
Journal articles (27)
Walter, J., (2024). ‘This Infamous, Scandalous, Headless Insurrection’: The Attack on William Laud and Lambeth Palace, May 1640, Revisited. The English Historical Review
Walter, J., (2024). Shaking Hands and the Politics of Touch in Early Modern England. Past & Present
Walter, J., (2023). Urban government and the early Stuart state: provincial towns, corporate liberties, and royal authority in England, 1603-1640. The Seventeenth Century. 38 (2), 358-359
Walter, J., (2022). The ‘Recusancy Revolt’ of 1603 Revisited, Popular Politics, and Civic Catholicism in Early Modern Ireland. The Historical Journal. 65 (2), 249-274
Walter, J., (2022). Dr Thomas Plume, 1630–1704: his life and legacies in Essex, Kent and Cambridge. International Journal of Regional and Local History. 17 (1), 61-63
Walter, J., (2022). Political Charity: The 1642 Collection for the Relief of His Majesties Distressed Subjects in Ireland. History: the journal of the Historical Association. 107 (378), 861-884
Walter, J., (2021). Crowds and political violence in early modern Ireland: Galway and the 1641 depositions. Irish Historical Studies. 45 (168), 178-202
Walter, J., (2019). ‘A Foolish Commotion of Youth’? Crowds and the ‘Crisis of the 1590s’ in London. The London Journal. 44 (1), 1-20
Walter, J., (2019). `Bun'ya no kyōkai o koete ̄ `atarashī shakai-shi' to kinsei Ingurando ni okeru seiji bunka ̄ /' "Beyond disciplinary boundaries: "the new social history" and political culture in early modern England", (trans. Harumi Goto). The Bulletin of The Institute of Human Sciences, Toyo University. No.22, (Special supplement), 5-23
Walter, J., (2015). Kissing cousins? Social history/political history before and after the revisionist moment. Huntington Library Quarterly. 78 (4), 703-722
Walter, JD., (2009). Gesturing at Authority: Deciphering the Gestural Code of Early Modern England. Past & Present. 203 (Supp 4), 96-127
Walter, JD., (2009). "The pooreman's joy and the gentleman's plague": a Lincolnshire libel and the politics of sedition in early modern England. Past & Present. 203 (1), 29-67
Walter, J., (2007). 'Affronts & Insolencies': The Voices of Radwinter and Popular Opposition to Laudianism. The English Historical Review. CXXII (495), 35-60
Walter, J., (2006). The English People and the English Revolution Revisited. History Workshop Journal. 61 (1), 171-182
Walter, J., (2004). Popular iconoclasm and the politics of the parish in eastern England, 1640-1642. The Historical Journal. 47 (2), 261-290
Walter, J., (2004). 'Abolishing Superstition with Sedition'? The Politics of Popular Iconoclasm in England 1640-1642. Past & Present. 183 (1), 79-123
Walter, JD., (2001). Confessional politics in pre-civil war Essex: prayer books, profanations, and petitions. The Historical Journal. 44 (3), 677-701
Walter, J., (2001). Confessional politics in pre-Civil War Essex: Prayer books, profanations, and petitions. HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 44 (3), 677-701
Walter, J., (2000). Moral economy and popular protest: crowds, conflict and authority. ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW. 53 (4), 824-825
Walter, J., (1999). Controlling misbehaviour in England, 1370-1600. ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW. 52 (2), 363-364
Walter, JD., (1992). Review of periodical literature, 1990: 1500-1700. Economic History Review. XLV (1)
Walter, JD., (1987). The economy of famine in early modern England. Bulletin for the Society for the Social History of Medicine. 40
Walter, JD., (1986). The decline of crisis mortality: what part did the poor law play. Bulletin for the Society for the Social History of Medicine. 38
Walter, J., (1986). . Journal of Historical Geography. 12 (2), 237-238
Walter, JD., (1985). A "Rising of the People"? The Oxfordshire Rising of 1596. Past and Present. 107 (107), 90-143
Walter, JD. and Wrightson, K., (1976). Dearth and the social order in early modern England. Past and Present. 71 (22)
Walter, J. and Wrightson, K., (1976). DEARTH AND THE SOCIAL ORDER IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND. Past and Present. 71 (1), 22-42
Books (6)
Walter, J., (2016). Covenanting Citizens The Protestation Oath and Popular Political Culture in the English Revolution. Oxford University Press. 0199605599. 9780199605590
Walter, J., (2013). Crowds and popular politics in early modern England. Manchester University Press. 0719074754. 9780719074752
Hindle, S., Shepard, A. and Walter, J., (2011). Remaking english society: Social relations and social change in early modern England
Braddick, MJ. and Walter, J., (2001). Negotiating Power in Early Modern Society Order, Hierarchy and Subordination in Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press. 0521651638. 9780521651639
Walter, J., (1999). Understanding Popular Violence in the English Revolution The Colchester Plunderers. Cambridge University Press. 0521651867. 9780521651868
Walter, J. and Schofield, R., (1991). Famine, Disease and the Social Order in Early Modern Society. Cambridge University Press. 0521406137. 9780521406130
Book chapters (32)
Walter, J., (2022). Origin Story: Crowd actions in the politics of subsistence. In: The Cuckoo Land; New Origin Stories. Editors: Page, R., . Comma Press. 276-283- 283. 1912697408. 978-1-91269-740-3
Walter, J., (2022). Killing (Catholic) officers no crime? The politics of religious violence in England in 1640. In: Insolent proceedings: Rethinking public politics in the English Revolution. Editors: Lake, P. and Peachey, J., . Manchester University Press. 22- 46
Walter, J., (2019). Famine and food security in early modern England: popular agency and the politics of dearth. In: A Cultural History of Famine Food Security and the Environment in India and Britain. Editors: Mukherjee, A., . Routledge. 21- 36. 1315316501. 9781315316505
Walter, J., (2019). 'Law-mindedness': crowds, courts and popular knowledge of the law in early modern England. In: Law, Lawyers and Litigants in Early Modern England Essays in Memory of Christopher W. Brooks. Editors: Lobban, M., Begiato, J. and Green, A., . Cambridge University Press. 164- 184. 1108491723. 9781108491723
Walter, J., (2019). The Oxfordshire Rising, 1596. Afterword: Enslow Hill. In: Resist: Stories of Uprising. Editors: Page, R., . Comma Press. 48- 57. 1912697084. 9781912697083
Walter, J., (2017). Authority and Protest. In: A Social History of England 1500-1750. Editors: Wrightson, K., . Cambridge University Press. 221- 241. 9781107041790
Walter, J., (2015). The Politics of Protest in Seventeenth-Century England. In: Crowd Actions in Britain and France from the Middle Ages to the Modern World. Palgrave Macmillan. 58- 79. 9781137316516
Walter, J., (2015). 'The public sphere and the parish pump: finding politics in the churchwardens' accounts 1639-1643'. In: Views from the Parish Churchwardens' Accounts c.1500-c.1800. Editors: Hitchman, V. and Foster, A., . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 157- 178. 144388667X. 9781443886673
Walter, J., (2015). 'Crowds and popular politics in the English Revolution'. In: The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution. Editors: Braddick, MJ., . Oxford Handbooks. 019969589X. 9780199695898
Walter, J., Hindle, S. and Shepard, A., (2015). 'The making and remaking of early modern English social history'. In: Remaking English Society Social Relations and Social Change in Early Modern England. Editors: Hindle, S., Shepard, A. and Walter, J., . Boydell & Brewer Ltd. 1- 40. 1783270179. 9781783270170
Walter, JD., (2013). Body Politics in the English Revolution. In: The Nature of the English Revolution Revisited. Editors: Taylor, S. and Tapsell, G., . Boydell & Brewer. 81- 102. 9781843838180
Walter, J., (2013). Performative violence and the politics of violence in the 1641 depositions. In: Ireland: 1641 Contexts and reactions. Editors: � Siochr�, M. and Ohlmeyer, J., . Manchester University Press. 134- 152. 9780719088179
Walter, JD., (2012). The politics of protest in seventeenth-century England. In: Disturbing the Peace: Riots, Resistance and Rebellion in Britain and France, 1381 to the Present. Editors: Bowden, B. and Davis, MT., . Palgrave Macmillan. 58- 79. 9780230203983
Hindle, S., Shepard, A. and Walter, J., (2011). The making and remaking of early modern english social history. In: Remaking English Society Social Relations and Social Change in Early Modern England. 1- 40
Walter, J., (2007). Faces in the crowd: Gender and age in the early modern English crowd. In: The Family in Early Modern England. Cambridge University Press. 96- 125
Walter, J., (2007). 'Politicising the popular? The tradition of 'riot' and popular political culture in the English Revolution'. In: The English Revolution C. 1590-1720 Politics, Religion and Communities. Editors: Tyacke, N., . Manchester University Press. 95- 110. 0719077079. 9780719077074
Walter, J., (2006). 'Comment: From Richmondshire to the early modern English state'. In: Migration and Identity in British History: Proceedings of the Fifth Anglo-Japanese Conference of Historians. Editors: Bates, D. and Kondo, K.,
Walter, J., (2006). La société anglaise du XViie siècle:structure sociale et changement social. In: Les Sociétés Anglaise, Espagnole et Française au XVIIe siècle. Editors: Fréchet, H., . Editions du Temp. 13- 38
Walter, J., (2001). 'Public transcripts, popular agency and the politics of subsistence in early modern England. In: Negotiating Power in Early Modern Society Order, Hierarchy and Subordination in Britain and Ireland. Editors: Braddick, MJ. and Walter, J., . Cambridge University Press. 149- 165. 0521651638. 9780521651639
Walter, J., (2001). 'Introduction. Grids of power: order, hierarchy and subordination in early modern society'. In: Negotiating Power in Early Modern Society Order, Hierarchy and Subordination in Britain and Ireland. Editors: Braddick, MJ. and Walter, J., . Cambridge University Press. 1- 42. 0521651638. 9780521651639
Walter, J., (1999). 'English Kett's Rebellion'. In: The Encyclopedia of Political Revolutions. Editors: Goldstone, J., . Congressional Quarterly Books. 155- 156. 1135937656. 9781135937652
Walter, J., (1998). 'Changement agraire et disparition de la paysannerie en Angleterre 1500-1800'. In: La terre et les paysans en France et en Grande-Bretagne de 1600 à 1800. Editors: Frechet, H., . Editions du Temps. 137- 167
Walter, J., (1996). 'Anti-popery and the Stour Valley riots of 1642'. In: Religious Dissent in East Anglia III. Editors: Chadd, D., . Centre of east Anglian Studies. 121- 140
Walter, J., (1996). 'The commons and their mental worlds'. In: The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor and Stuart Britain. Editors: Morrill, J., . Oxford University Press. 191- 218. 0192893270. 9780192893277
Walter, J., (1994). 'Crown and crowd: popular culture and popular protest in early modern England'. In: Sotsial'nai istoriia: problemy sinteza. Editors: Repina, L., . General Historical Institute, Russia Academy of Sciences. 235- 248
Walter, J., (1992). 'Subsistence strategies, social economy and the politics of subsistence in early modern England'. In: Just a sack of potatoes? crisis experiences in European societies, past and present. Editors: Hakkinen, A., . Societas Historica Finlandiae. 53- 85
Walter, J., (1991). 'The impact on society: a world turned upside down?'. In: The Impact of the English Civil War. Editors: Morrill, J., . History Today Books. 104- 122
Walter, J., (1991). 'The social economy of dearth in early modern England'. In: Famine, Disease and the Social Order in Early Modern Society. Editors: Walter, J. and Schofield, RS., . Cambridge University Press. 75- 128. 0521406137. 9780521406130
Walter, J. and Schofield, RS., (1991). 'Famine, disease an crisis mortality in early modern society'. In: Famine, Disease and the Social Order in Early Modern Society. Cambridge University Press. 1- 73. 0521406137. 9780521406130
Walter, J. and Morrill, J., (1987). 'Order and disorder in the English Revolution'. In: Order and Disorder in Early Modern England. Editors: Fletcher, AJ. and Stevenson, J., . Cambridge University Press. 137- 165. 052134932X. 9780521349321
Walter, J., (1983). 'The geography of food riots, 1585-1649'. In: An Atlas of Rural Protest in Britain 1548-1900. Editors: Charlesworth, A., . Croom Helm. 72- 80. 1351625748. 9781351625746
Walter, J., (1980). 'Grain riots and popular attitudes to the law: Maldon and the crisis of 1629. In: An Ungovernable people the English and their law in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Editors: Brewer, J. and Styles, J., . Hutchinson & Rutgers. 47- 84
