Bonnie Prince Charlie: Charles Edward Stuart (Pimlico)
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Review
'the definitive biography which had been needed for so long' Caroline Bingham, TLS 'does much to explain that contradictory accounts left to us of the man' Rosalind Mitchison, London Review of Books
Book Description
'the definitive biography which had been needed for so long' Caroline Bingham, TLS'does much to explain that contradictory accounts left to us of the man'Rosalind Mitchison, London Review of Books
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is without doubt the best biography available detailing the turbulent life of Charles Edward Stuart, the legend that is Bonnie Prince Charlie. Whether he deserves the 'romantic' reputation often attached to his character is an ongoing debate to this day although in this particular piece Frank McLynn writes with sympathy and respect for the Stuart prince.
Despite this debatable stance the author does provide what i felt were fair assesments of the various 'key players' in the '45 i.e Lord George Murray, O'Sullivan and of course, Cumberland and his cronies. McLynn at times writes with what borders on contempt for the Hanoverian army, its officers and commanders, in many instances with plenty of justification. The author compares well the relative humanity and compassion of the Prince and his command with their Hanoverian opponents, summing it up thus,"..the Hanoverian officers in general betrayed a frightening, sickening callousness in pursuit of their aims," which, weighing up all of the evidence available to us, is probably a fair assessment.
McLynn does, however provide a strong argument to quash various myths attached to Charles such as the commonly bandied about lack of intelligence, cowardice and that he ultimately ruined the Highlanders in a desperate, rash adventure. What emerges from the evidence used is a physically brave, reasonably intelligent young man who knew exactly what he was doing when he landed on the west coast of Scotland. As the author points out, the clan chiefs were no fools, they knew the risks attached to rebellion and only an intelligent man would succeed in persuading them to risk all in his father's cause. Stuart charm would not suffice despite what many histories would have one believe.
McLynn closely analysis the weaknesses of the Prince's character and contrary to a previous review, i feel this is a great strength in the book and the author provides compelling arguments and evidence to reinforce his views. That Charles was paranoid, delusional, overtrusting (to his flatterers) and inexperienced in warfare is beyond question and the author competently writes of the gradual deterioration from the 'zenith' of Derby to drunken old age in exile.
A must read for any interested in the '45, Jacobites or,of course, Charles himself. Many who hold prejudiced views on the Prince -which is commonplace in the Highlands despite the supposed romance we are alleged to attach to his person- should read this excellent piece of literature- it may well be an eye-opener.
Despite this debatable stance the author does provide what i felt were fair assesments of the various 'key players' in the '45 i.e Lord George Murray, O'Sullivan and of course, Cumberland and his cronies. McLynn at times writes with what borders on contempt for the Hanoverian army, its officers and commanders, in many instances with plenty of justification. The author compares well the relative humanity and compassion of the Prince and his command with their Hanoverian opponents, summing it up thus,"..the Hanoverian officers in general betrayed a frightening, sickening callousness in pursuit of their aims," which, weighing up all of the evidence available to us, is probably a fair assessment.
McLynn does, however provide a strong argument to quash various myths attached to Charles such as the commonly bandied about lack of intelligence, cowardice and that he ultimately ruined the Highlanders in a desperate, rash adventure. What emerges from the evidence used is a physically brave, reasonably intelligent young man who knew exactly what he was doing when he landed on the west coast of Scotland. As the author points out, the clan chiefs were no fools, they knew the risks attached to rebellion and only an intelligent man would succeed in persuading them to risk all in his father's cause. Stuart charm would not suffice despite what many histories would have one believe.
McLynn closely analysis the weaknesses of the Prince's character and contrary to a previous review, i feel this is a great strength in the book and the author provides compelling arguments and evidence to reinforce his views. That Charles was paranoid, delusional, overtrusting (to his flatterers) and inexperienced in warfare is beyond question and the author competently writes of the gradual deterioration from the 'zenith' of Derby to drunken old age in exile.
A must read for any interested in the '45, Jacobites or,of course, Charles himself. Many who hold prejudiced views on the Prince -which is commonplace in the Highlands despite the supposed romance we are alleged to attach to his person- should read this excellent piece of literature- it may well be an eye-opener.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have not read the previous reviews of this book, so if I cover anything that has already been mentioned I apoligise.
First off, this is a great peice of work on Charles Edward Stuart. I have found books dealing with him too often show him as a effiminate Italian prince or on the other hand, a Jacobite superman.
McLynn uses psychology as a tool throughout the book to try and understand Charles, his motives, rational and personality. At first I was very skeptical of this approach. However, I was pleasently surprised to find McLynn's arguments are well thought out and well written, the psychological analysis works very well. McLynn paints a fair and balanced view of the uprising and the people involved. Refreshingly, the main events of the Prince's life are put in the context of European politics of the era.
Most importantly I feel McLynn successfully shows Charles the man, not the myth. Everything is explained in a way which you feel you can relate to on some level. I felt I could detect some note of symapthy for Charles under the surface from McLynn but it never makes the book feel unbalanced.
People who are not academically minded should not be put off as I feel the book is accessable to anyone. If you already have a strong knowledge you will be well rewarded by reading this book and will learn many obscure and unusual things about Charles. If you are pretty new to Charles, or only know of the myth you will also be rewarded by a rich and balanced view of his life.
First off, this is a great peice of work on Charles Edward Stuart. I have found books dealing with him too often show him as a effiminate Italian prince or on the other hand, a Jacobite superman.
McLynn uses psychology as a tool throughout the book to try and understand Charles, his motives, rational and personality. At first I was very skeptical of this approach. However, I was pleasently surprised to find McLynn's arguments are well thought out and well written, the psychological analysis works very well. McLynn paints a fair and balanced view of the uprising and the people involved. Refreshingly, the main events of the Prince's life are put in the context of European politics of the era.
Most importantly I feel McLynn successfully shows Charles the man, not the myth. Everything is explained in a way which you feel you can relate to on some level. I felt I could detect some note of symapthy for Charles under the surface from McLynn but it never makes the book feel unbalanced.
People who are not academically minded should not be put off as I feel the book is accessable to anyone. If you already have a strong knowledge you will be well rewarded by reading this book and will learn many obscure and unusual things about Charles. If you are pretty new to Charles, or only know of the myth you will also be rewarded by a rich and balanced view of his life.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a superior biography of Charles Edward Stuart; one recent historian (Duffy) remarks that 'it is unlikely to be bettered' and it is hard not to agree with that assessment. The author spends time covering all aspects of Charles' life and does not skate over the years after his escape from Scotland in 1746. This is a sympathetic assessment of Charles. The author attempts some psychanalysis, a topic on which it is not certain he is qualified, and these sections seem to work less well. But a vast array of sources from a number of countries have been employed here, to excellent effect.
There are a few oddities in the details however. The author discusses panic in London in December 1745 and quotes from Horace Walpole, but the reference used is to Walpole writing three months earlier - in December, Walpole's comments are rather different.
Yet for a decent account of the Stuart princeling, this biography shines out.
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