Justine Brown skillfully introduces the narrative with James' flight as Duke of York, following the downfall of his father Charles I, and his determination to restore his "lost world" of childhood. This tactic effectively garners sympathy for a young boy whose world has been shattered.

The author provides an overview of the religious division in England at the time of James' birth, establishing the context for his later life. The portrayal of Henrietta Maria is particularly vivid, with descriptions of candlelit entertainments vividly bringing her character to life. It's evident that the author has conducted extensive research, with observations grounded in primary sources.

One of the standout chapters is "The Rover," which offers a detailed account of James' travels and includes quotes from contemporary letters, revealing intricate interpersonal dynamics. Throughout the book, the author meticulously traces the relationship between James and his brother Charles, portraying it as both affectionate and fraught with clashes, highlighting their differences in personal and political matters.

Overall, this is a balanced and sympathetic portrayal of James, which has altered my perception of him. I found him to be a much more intriguing figure than expected, and it has motivated me to delve deeper into the period. With its thorough research and engaging writing, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this enigmatic figure whose life was profoundly influenced by the political and religious landscape of his time.

NetGalley, Elizabeth Whittaker

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Firstly, this book is very well written. Brown cleverly opens the book with the flight of James, as Duke of York, after the defeat and imprisonment of his father Charles I, and having him vowing to restore this “lost world” of his childhood, before going back to look at his birth and the circumstances surrounding it. It was a clever tactic and made me inclined to sympathise with a young boy whose world had been shattered.

An outline of the religious divide in England at the time of his birth helped to set the connection for his later life and the picture the author drew of Henreiia Maria was particularly evocative. I could vividly picture the “candlelit entertainments interweaving dance, chamber music, allegory, poetry, fantastical costumes and sets.” The author has clearly done a huge amount of research and such observations are well rooted in primary evidence.

‘The Rover’ chapter was one of my favourites. The detailed account of Jame’s travels and quotes from contemporary letters exposing the complicated web of interpersonal relationships, likes and dislikes, were fascinating. Likewise throughout the book the author carefully traces the relationship between James and his brother Charles, a relationship that is revealed to be affectionate, and loving but at times fraught and riddled with clashes, focusing on their differences in matters both personal and political.

I feel this is a very balanced and sympathetic account of James, and it has revised my opinion of him to an extent. I certainly found him a much much more interesting man than I thought I would, and I’ve been inspired to go and read some more about the period. This book is well researched and well written, I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about this strange and interesting man whose life was shaped so completely by the political and religious reality of the era in which he lived.

NetGalley, Rebecca B