The royal Stuarts: a history of the family that shaped Britain

*Starred Review* In telling the story of a royal dynasty, an author needs to manage both bigger and smaller pictures, moving steadily through family history, identifying common traits, but at the same time pausing to meaningfully visit the notable individual members to establish each person's distinctions and how he or she fit into family history. The Stuart dynasty, rulers of Scotland and, subsequently, both Scotland and England upon the demise of the Tudors, makes a rewarding in terms of sheer dramatic appeal subject for this well-grounded and nimble author. The Stuarts were colorful and tragic, accomplishing much good as sovereigns of the two British kingdoms but remembered more for the mistakes they made. In appended acknowledgments, Massie, a journalist and novelist, admits that his book has been a long time in the making. What that length of preparation time means to the reader is not a turgid, overwrought narrative that was too much labored over but, instead, a responsibly thought-out presentation remarkable for its stylistic verve. The Stuarts have been the natural stuff of historical fiction, and the same readers who enjoy their history fictionalized will be fully engaged in the dramatically real history found here.--Hooper, Brad Copyright 2010 Booklist

In this smart history, Massie gives its due to the British dynasty that has long played second fiddle to the Tudors. A key Breton ancestor of the Stuart monarchs was appointed, circa 1124, High Steward of Scotland, a prestigious role that gave the Stewarts their family name (changed to Stuart by Mary, queen of Scots), and in which they served ably for eight generations. Robert II became the first, if ineffectual, Stewart king of Scotland in 1371. The five Jameses were men of unusual ability, and James IV's marriage to Henry VIII's sister led to the union of Scotland and England 100 years later. The deaths on the scaffold of Mary and her grandson Charles I, says Massie, lent their memory a nobility that their lives frequently lacked. James VI, an intelligent, canny politician, was patron of the King James Bible. The most intelligent, charming, and deceitful of Stuart kings, Charles II, was followed by his brother James, whose Catholicism cost him his throne. The Stuart dynasty ended on an inglorious note with the "politically insignificant" Mary II and her sister Anne, an "ordinary woman" who despite over a dozen pregnancies, failed to produce a living heir. Massie, a novelist (Caesar) and Spectator columnist, offers a delightfully opinionated but nuanced and action-packed history. Illus. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Massie (novelist and columnist for The Scotsman) addresses the romance and myths that surround one of the ruling families of Great Britain, making the case that there is more to the Stuarts than the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots, or the defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie. Beginning with Robert II in 14th-century Scotland and ending with James VIII and III, the author provides an engaging look at the political machinations, marriages and affairs, executions and suspicious deaths, battles, and reforms throughout the Stuart reigns, which of course included the family's ascension to the English throne (they were already monarchs of Scotland) upon the death of Elizabeth I, and the battles between Charles I and Parliament, his beheading, and the restoration of Stuarts to the throne after the end of the Cromwell Protectorate. The family trees provided at the beginning are essential. -VERDICT Massie is candid that this collective biography "makes no pretence to be a work of academic history," and, indeed, there are limited notes on sources as well as repetition of some dubious stories. However, it's an enjoyable, often witty read, which will make for a nice introduction to the Stuarts and a fun refresher for aficionados. [See Prepub Alert, 6/13/11.]-Megan Hahn Fraser, Univ. of California-Los Angeles Lib. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* In telling the story of a royal dynasty, an author needs to manage both bigger and smaller pictures, moving steadily through family history, identifying common traits, but at the same time pausing to meaningfully visit the notable individual members to establish each person's distinctions and how he or she fit into family history. The Stuart dynasty, rulers of Scotland and, subsequently, both Scotland and England upon the demise of the Tudors, makes a rewarding—in terms of sheer dramatic appeal—subject for this well-grounded and nimble author. The Stuarts were colorful and tragic, accomplishing much good as sovereigns of the two British kingdoms but remembered more for the mistakes they made. In appended acknowledgments, Massie, a journalist and novelist, admits that his "book has been a long time in the making." What that length of preparation time means to the reader is not a turgid, overwrought narrative that was too much labored over but, instead, a responsibly thought-out presentation remarkable for its stylistic verve. The Stuarts have been the natural stuff of historical fiction, and the same readers who enjoy their history fictionalized will be fully engaged in the dramatically real history found here. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Founded in the 1300s by Robert II of Scotland, the Stuart dynasty presided over a rapidly modernizing Scotland and eventually acceded to the English Crown, following hard upon the Tudors. Along the way, they were implicated in violent moments from the Scottish Wars of Independence to the English Civil War to the Restoration. Spectator columnist Massie, also a novelist (e.g., the "Roman Quartet"), apparently delivers a juicy good read. Not just for history lovers but anyone hooked on Showtime's The Tudors or, currently, The Borgias.

Massie (novelist and columnist for The Scotsman) addresses the romance and myths that surround one of the ruling families of Great Britain, making the case that there is more to the Stuarts than the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots, or the defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie. Beginning with Robert II in 14th-century Scotland and ending with James VIII and III, the author provides an engaging look at the political machinations, marriages and affairs, executions and suspicious deaths, battles, and reforms throughout the Stuart reigns, which of course included the family's ascension to the English throne (they were already monarchs of Scotland) upon the death of Elizabeth I, and the battles between Charles I and Parliament, his beheading, and the restoration of Stuarts to the throne after the end of the Cromwell Protectorate. The family trees provided at the beginning are essential. VERDICT Massie is candid that this collective biography "makes no pretence to be a work of academic history," and, indeed, there are limited notes on sources as well as repetition of some dubious stories. However, it's an enjoyable, often witty read, which will make for a nice introduction to the Stuarts and a fun refresher for aficionados. [See Prepub Alert, 6/13/11.]—Megan Hahn Fraser, Univ. of California-Los Angeles Lib.

In this smart history, Massie gives its due to the British dynasty that has long played second fiddle to the Tudors. A key Breton ancestor of the Stuart monarchs was appointed, circa 1124, High Steward of Scotland, a prestigious role that gave the Stewarts their family name (changed to Stuart by Mary, queen of Scots), and in which they served ably for eight generations. Robert II became the first, if ineffectual, Stewart king of Scotland in 1371. The five Jameses were men of unusual ability, and James IV's marriage to Henry VIII's sister led to the union of Scotland and England 100 years later. The deaths on the scaffold of Mary and her grandson Charles I, says Massie, lent their memory a nobility that their lives frequently lacked. James VI, an intelligent, canny politician, was patron of the King James Bible. The most intelligent, charming, and deceitful of Stuart kings, Charles II, was followed by his brother James, whose Catholicism cost him his throne. The Stuart dynasty ended on an inglorious note with the "politically insignificant" Mary II and her sister Anne, an "ordinary woman" who despite over a dozen pregnancies, failed to produce a living heir. Massie, a novelist (Caesar) and Spectator columnist, offers a delightfully opinionated but nuanced and action-packed history. Illus. (Dec.)