Delving deep into the history of early Quakerism, Erica Canela brings out both the theological and very human side of the movement, telling the stories of men and women who felt called by god to spread their faith through preaching, writings and, in some cases, martyrdom. Based on very considerable research, Canela’s Zealous is a hugely important addition to works on the seventeenth-century’s confused, and often confusing, religious debates, set against the backdrop of the British Civil Wars.
Dr Elizabeth Norton, Author of Women Who Ruled the World
From Darkness comes Light. Erica Canela, in a model combination of scholarship and readability, explains how Quakerism emerged from the traumas of a world turned upside down in the British Isles in the 1640s and 1650s.
Thomas Hamm, Emeritus Professor of History, Earlham College. Author of The Quakers in America
This is a good local study to fill out our existing national history of early Quakerism, with some additional and moving perspectives not found in previous scholarship.
Professor Ronald Hutton CBE, Author of Oliver Cromwell: Commander in Chief
Zealous is a fascinating examination of early Quakers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Canela’s highly readable and engaging account reveals the critical role of regional politics and circumstances in shaping local expressions and experiences of Quakerism.
Professor Robynne Rogers Healey, Trinity Western University
Erica Canela has written the best account we have of the emerging Quaker movement and its social context in two midlands counties: a book at once both lively and authoritative.
Dr Stephen K. Roberts, History of Parliament Trust, London
Ambitious in its intent, and masterful in its execution. In Zealous, Canela has unearthed a hidden story in the most engaging and informative of ways.
Jackson van Uden, BBC History Extra ’30 Under 30′ and History with Jackson
A vivid and groundbreaking account of how the early Quakers defied seventeenth century norms to forge a lasting spiritual revolution.
Dr Estelle Paranque, Author of Thorns, Lust and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn
In Zealous, Dr. Erica Canela vividly unpacks the origins of the Quaker movement, which emerged from the ashes of a brutal civil war. In a shattered nation where crown and church had been pulled down, the Quakers forged a new spiritual path to fill the resulting void. Far from being peace-seeking souls, this radical group tapped into widespread unrest and anxiety to incite followers. Their mission was to make sense of the chaos they had endured, take control, and create a viable religious belief system for those coping with the trauma of war. With clarity and energy, Zealous traces the rise of the Quakers through key figures like George Fox, Margaret Fell, and James Nayler, while also shining a light on the everyday men and women who shaped the movement – particularly in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Insightful and engaging, this balanced account brings their convictions and struggles to life, while revealing the bold, disruptive strategies these spiritual revolutionaries employed to achieve their ends.
Mark Turnbull, Author of Prince Rupert of the Rhine: King Charles I’s Cavalier Commander
