- Unknown Binding
- Publisher: Chatto & Windus (2003)
- ASIN: B004K2UKMC
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
The Cradle King
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The factors that render a book like this unputdownable are either relevations of how the principal figure influenced contemporary political developments or - preferably AND - what a colourful personality he or she was. In the last case an author's mischievous eye in bringing that personality to life is an essential requirement.
Having bought the book on the strenght of the above synopsis I had hopes that at least the second element would guarantee a few day's entertaining reading. As it turns out, Mr. Stewart has taken great pains never to appear even remotely tabloidsy or unduly humorous in his approach of James the private person and his treatment of the King's private foibles could be read out under the Christmas tree without causing any great scandal or merriment.
What remains then to make this book interesting to the non-British reader is the impact James made on political or other major developments in the European theater. Here however the reader will find that James'occasional efforts in this field were usually without much consequence. His efforts concentrated on Scottish issues such as bringing the Kirk to heel, his unsuccesful efforts to formally create a Great Britain in his lifetime and on his other efforts in the fields of politics, theology and poetry within England and Scotland.
The resulting book is certainly "popular history" that however style-wise fully earns the Irish Times'description as being "thoughtful and erudite" which as we know is not always equal to "gripping and unputdownable". It will no doubt be of considerable interest to serious students of Britain's history and the Stuart dynasty. Foreign - and/or more shallow - readers should however approach the book's synopsis with some caution as it suggests more entertainment than this book actually delivers.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are real problems in writing a biography of James VI and I - the first is implicit in those Latin numbers: Do we focus on the King of Scotland or the King of "Great Britain"? Another is that historiographers have, for 350 years, taken sides regarding James's contribution to the British state. Thirdly, many writers have been caught by the contemporary appraisal of James as "the wisest fool in Christendom" and have used it as their guiding principle in describing his reign.
So, this is the kind of book we really need when dealing with James. Yes it's stodgy. Yes it's lacking in verve. Yes it reads like a very long essay written for a PhD Thesis. And yes I put it down. Frequently. And Then I picked it up again. See, this is a biography of a complex figure in British history and it simply tells the story as it happened. It doesn't tell you what to think about it. I rather like that.
So, down a star for being a bit turgid. Down another star because what this book really needs is an extra two appendices. The writer constructs the latter part of James's life thematically (relations with Parliament, religious rows etc) so chapters overlap. A timeline would be helpful. So would a list of main figures (such as Bothwell and Carr) along with short biographies.
So, this is the kind of book we really need when dealing with James. Yes it's stodgy. Yes it's lacking in verve. Yes it reads like a very long essay written for a PhD Thesis. And yes I put it down. Frequently. And Then I picked it up again. See, this is a biography of a complex figure in British history and it simply tells the story as it happened. It doesn't tell you what to think about it. I rather like that.
So, down a star for being a bit turgid. Down another star because what this book really needs is an extra two appendices. The writer constructs the latter part of James's life thematically (relations with Parliament, religious rows etc) so chapters overlap. A timeline would be helpful. So would a list of main figures (such as Bothwell and Carr) along with short biographies.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a well written biography and is very helpful indeed to those who have only a sketchy knowledge of the structures of politics and aristocracy in Scotland. The author leads you through the twists and turns of James's childhood but leaves perhaps certain questions unasked and unanswered particularly over the kings relations with his male favourites....
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Cradle King - Alan Stewart
I'm a big fan of historical biographies, especially of England's monarchs, but this book was, as the other reviewers have said, frankly boring and dull. Read more
Published on 18 May 2008 by Matthew Turner
Too much source material spoils the flow
I had looked forward to reading this biography of James Ist. Whilst an admitted devotee of Alison Weir and the scholarship and detail she brings to her biographies, I found this... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2006 by Mr. A. Morton
Slightly boring
If a review quoted on a book says, 'a very timely biography', beware! It means that there are not many new biographies on this subject and, if being, well, 'timely' is the best... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2004 by E. Davenport
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