On both sides of the sea

The narrative follows families and a close household through the upheaval surrounding the trial and execution of the monarch, tracing personal responses to the transition between monarchy and republic and its eventual aftermath. Presented through alternating recollections, diary entries, and occasional notes, it interlaces public political events with intimate domestic life, religious disputes, and moral reflection. A devout dissenting figure challenges customary forms of address and worship, prompting debate about conscience and conformity, while loyalties, griefs, and cautious hopes unfold among relatives and neighbors, exploring how national convulsion reshapes private belief and everyday duties.