Prophets and Witches: Witchcraft, Gender and Politics in Revolutionary England

On-line talk from the Socialist History Society
2 June 2026 


Speaker: Debra Parish

Prophets and Witches offers an exploration of female prophecy and witchcraft during the political and religious upheavals of the English Revolutionary period from 1640 to 1660.

The religious fervour and End of Days enthusiasm precipitated by the Civil War opened the door for unprecedented numbers of women to achieve visibility and spiritual authority as prophets. Read on ...

Revolutions: A New History

The Socialist History Society AGM took place on Saturday 6 June
followed by a talk by Donald Sassoon on his new book

Historian Donald Sassoon takes the long view of some of the most famous upheavals: the English Civil War, the American War of Independence, the national uprisings that unified Italy and Germany, and the French, Russian and Chinese revolutions. Read on ...

Newsletter Spring 2026

The Socialist History Society Newsletter can be downloaded here…

  • Levellers Day 2026
  • 1926 General Strike Centenary Open Day
  • Leyton and the General Strike
  • Christopher Hill: The Life of a Radical Historian
  • Radical and Socialist History in South London
  • Local History in Salford and Manchester
  • How I Became a Socialist
  • Why Rosa Luxemburg remains a beacon for today
  • Left on the Shelf
  • The General Strike by Harry Wicks
  • Forthcoming meetings

The Socialist History Society AGM will take place at the
Marx Memorial Library 37A Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU, nearest station Farringdon on Saturday 6 June at 1pm,
This will be followed at 2pm by a talk by Donald Sassoon on his new book Revolutions: A New History

Radicals: The Working Classes and the Making of Modern Britain

A Socialist History Society Thursday 14 May


Speaker: Geoff Andrews

An authoritative and original history of the working classes and the British Left

The political Left in Britain rose out of the Industrial Revolution, as the working classes emerged as the leading force in the call for social change. Their contributions extended widely to political representation, the birth of the Labour Party and women’s suffrage, the autodidact tradition in adult education, and Britain’s literary culture. Read on ...