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Title: Royal Survivor: The Life of Charles II by Stephen Coote ISBN: 0-312-22687-X Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.11 (9 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The adventure King
Comment: An amazing story of a prince gone into exile after his father's execution by parliament and his wanderings through Europe. Then his restoration to his father's throne as Charles II. He had an amazing sexual appetite, which led to all the illegitimate children, including the doomed, Duke of Monmouth. Charles II seemed to enjoy life, dodged parliament to the end and ultimately died a Catholic, and paved the way to his son, Monmouth's demise; his brother, James II's abdication; and his nephew, William III of Orange ascension to the throne. Great book. The house of Stuart could never be called boring.
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent Story of an Perplexing King
Comment: Stephen Coote's biography on Charles II is an enjoyable story of a man who the author has titled 'Royal Survivor'. This book, which is just under 400 pages (hardback format), takes the reader on a trip with Charles II, through his trials and tribulations, his victories and his defeats. We follow Charles II from boyhood, the death of his father and his attempt to re-claim the throne which met its end at the Battle of Worcester. Then the author takes us along with Charles II as he makes an exciting escape from England back into exile and then his triumphant return to the Throne of England.
We then settle into an account of Charles II as the King of England, his conflicts with Parliament and the tales of his many mistresses. We follow the story through the period of the Restoration and other great events that occurred during his reign. After finishing this book I really believed that I had gained a better understanding of the subject and the times. In fact I came away from feeling that the King wasn't all that bad and maybe he did try to do his best for England (within a certain framework).
Not only did the book offer an account of Charles II and his private life but we are also provided with accounts of his struggle with the Dutch provinces, France and its King, along with the plague and the Great Fire of London. I would not consider the book to be an in-depth biography but more of a narrative history offering the reader a general overview of the subject. That said, I still found the story interesting and learnt quite a few things along the way.
I believe that anyone who enjoys good history without too many dates and names will be quite taken with this account of Charles II. The book provides the reader with a free flowing narrative, holding your interest throughout the whole story. The book is well presented and has a number of black and white photographs of the period. Overall this is an excellent story and well worth the time to read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent biography
Comment: Stephen Coote's biography of Charles II, _Royal Survivor_, is a superb story in every respect. It suffers a lack of the kings' portraits, but I suspect this is no fault of Mr. Coote who excels beautifully in bringing a wealth of information to his readers. The biographer's evenhanded approach nicely integrates Charles' personal life with late 17th century politics, economics, science, medicine, social studies and religion. Mr. Coote spends a number of pages discussing Catholic-Anglican antagonism, showing again that moderns have gained little insight from our ancestors' mistakes.
The book has very few weaknesses. A royal genealogy diagram would be helpful, but many are available. A few parallels with modern history are neatly if briefly presented. Little is written about those close to Charles who survived his death in 1685, his queen, mistresses and children. And I was curious if those who helped save Charles' life during his flight in 1651 were suitably rewarded once he became king!
I very much enjoyed Mr. Coote's style and presentation. He reads well and easily, and I often had trouble setting his book down, wondering what would happen. The author is particularly strong when explaining European politics and religious doctrines, ordinarily dry and difficult topics. His book is highly recommended.
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Title: The Stuarts (A Royal History of England) by Maurice Ashley, Antonia Fraser ISBN: 0520228006 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: 06 November, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Wars of the Roses by Alison Weir, Phebe Kirkham ISBN: 0345404335 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier ISBN: 0452282152 Publisher: Plume Books Pub. Date: 08 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Elizabeth and Mary : Cousins, Rivals, Queens by JANE DUNN ISBN: 0375408983 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 06 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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Title: An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America by Henry Wiencek ISBN: 0374175268 Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Pub. Date: 15 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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