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The Private Life of James II
An intimate look at James II and VII, exploring his romantic escapades, tumultuous life, and the personal struggles that shaped his controversial reign.
The personal side of James II and VII has long been obscured by the propaganda storm emanating from the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688, one of the great founding myths of modern Britain. Justine Brown unveils James the man, teasing out a fresh dimension. The Private Life of James II details the romantic adventures of a true Cavalier—handsome, courageous, loyal, pleasure-seeking, lusty, determined and soulful. The Stuart “spare” briefly experienced a golden childhood before, aged nine, he was flung headlong into the English Civil Wars of 1642-1649. After escaping England in disguise, he endured the execution of his adored father, Charles I, and years of exile on the Continent. In 1660 the Duke of York returned to his native land in triumph. He rode into the capital at the right hand of his brother, Charles II. James fully embraced the role of Restoration rake, headed up the Royal Navy, fought the Fire of London with gusto, and was a great patron of theater, painting, and music.
“The darling of the people” until his dramatic conversion to Roman Catholicism transformed him into England’s scapegoat, the heir to the Crown had a turbulent road ahead. Come to understand what truly drove James, and learn about his complex relationships with his children, his two remarkable wives, Anne Hyde and Mary of Modena; his many mistresses, as well as the extraordinary friends and rivals who helped shape the fate of this consequential Stuart monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The personal side of James II and VII has long been obscured by the propaganda storm emanating from the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688, one of the great founding myths of modern Britain. Justine Brown unveils James the man, teasing out a fresh dimension. The Private Life of James II details the romantic adventures of a true Cavalier—handsome, courageous, loyal, pleasure-seeking, lusty, determined and soulful. The Stuart “spare” briefly experienced a golden childhood before, aged nine, he was flung headlong into the English Civil Wars of 1642-1649. After escaping England in disguise, he endured the execution of his adored father, Charles I, and years of exile on the Continent. In 1660 the Duke of York returned to his native land in triumph. He rode into the capital at the right hand of his brother, Charles II. James fully embraced the role of Restoration rake, headed up the Royal Navy, fought the Fire of London with gusto, and was a great patron of theater, painting, and music.
“The darling of the people” until his dramatic conversion to Roman Catholicism transformed him into England’s scapegoat, the heir to the Crown had a turbulent road ahead. Come to understand what truly drove James, and learn about his complex relationships with his children, his two remarkable wives, Anne Hyde and Mary of Modena; his many mistresses, as well as the extraordinary friends and rivals who helped shape the fate of this consequential Stuart monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published July 21, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 5, 2024
This week I recently received an ARC copy of Justine Brown’s new book “The Private Life of James II” and I must admit my heart sank a little - James II is not my favourite monarch. Everything I had read about him to date painted a picture of a dissolute and weak man so I didn't have high hopes for this book given the subject matter but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.
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.
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.
July 1, 2024
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
Brief Summary: James II and VI of England, Scotland, and Ireland is most famous for being the monarch deposed by the Glorious Revolution. After his conversion to Catholicism, many hoped his brother Charles II would remarry and produce his legitimate heir or remove James from the succession altogether. However, when Charles would not disinherit his brother, the next generation of the Stuart family sought to do just that. Examining James II's entire life Brown paints a vivid picture of a complex and complicated man with a strong sense of duty and honour to family and country.
Thoughts: I believe that this is only the third book that I have ever read where James II is central to historical events. The very first book that I read on the subject focused more on his daughters, Mary II and Anne. I think that while that work provided a good framework from which to build, this work provided a more holistic picture of the man and King.
Brown's writing is captivating and at once relays the facts about James and those around him while balancing the complexity of him as a human being. Making him neither hero, nor villain, but simply a man trying to overcome the trials of his lifetime. Although not a direct psychological evaluation of James, Brown also does not shy away from articulating the thoughts and emotions that James had at any given moment. For example, when his daughters work against him to remove him from the thrown, Brown highlights the sense of loss and betrayal that he felt as events unfolded. However, these personal feelings are also balanced with James' belief that another Civil War should be avoided for the good of his people.
One of the most fascinating parts of this book for me was how Brown was able to delve into what led to James' conversion to Catholicism. This book is an in-depth exploration of what made a man raised in the Protestant faith and the son of a Protestant martyr, Charles I, convert at a time when anti-Catholic sentiments were so strong in the English and Scottish governments. Brown does not only highlight that James is a man who is driven by moral conviction, but was introspective enough to understand his flaws.
This is an excellent biographical work re-examining the importance of James II to history. If you are a history lover or interested in the Stuart dynasty this is a must-read!
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Medical content, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, War, Colonisation, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Brief Summary: James II and VI of England, Scotland, and Ireland is most famous for being the monarch deposed by the Glorious Revolution. After his conversion to Catholicism, many hoped his brother Charles II would remarry and produce his legitimate heir or remove James from the succession altogether. However, when Charles would not disinherit his brother, the next generation of the Stuart family sought to do just that. Examining James II's entire life Brown paints a vivid picture of a complex and complicated man with a strong sense of duty and honour to family and country.
Thoughts: I believe that this is only the third book that I have ever read where James II is central to historical events. The very first book that I read on the subject focused more on his daughters, Mary II and Anne. I think that while that work provided a good framework from which to build, this work provided a more holistic picture of the man and King.
Brown's writing is captivating and at once relays the facts about James and those around him while balancing the complexity of him as a human being. Making him neither hero, nor villain, but simply a man trying to overcome the trials of his lifetime. Although not a direct psychological evaluation of James, Brown also does not shy away from articulating the thoughts and emotions that James had at any given moment. For example, when his daughters work against him to remove him from the thrown, Brown highlights the sense of loss and betrayal that he felt as events unfolded. However, these personal feelings are also balanced with James' belief that another Civil War should be avoided for the good of his people.
One of the most fascinating parts of this book for me was how Brown was able to delve into what led to James' conversion to Catholicism. This book is an in-depth exploration of what made a man raised in the Protestant faith and the son of a Protestant martyr, Charles I, convert at a time when anti-Catholic sentiments were so strong in the English and Scottish governments. Brown does not only highlight that James is a man who is driven by moral conviction, but was introspective enough to understand his flaws.
This is an excellent biographical work re-examining the importance of James II to history. If you are a history lover or interested in the Stuart dynasty this is a must-read!
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Medical content, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, War, Colonisation, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
May 20, 2024
I requested and received an eARC of The Private Life of James II by Justine Brown. I was super excited to see that this title was available for request! My previous reading on James II was a rather slim volume (James II: The Triumph and the Tragedy by John Calloway) and he is probably the Stuart monarch I knew the least about. With only flashes of the warming-pan baby and the Glorious Revolution in my mind, I was excited to explore the king’s life in further detail. When reading historical nonfiction I’m always most excited to read the prologue, because it helps me to understand how the author will be positioning their subject. In her prologue, Brown focuses on James' teenage escape to the Netherlands prior to his father’s execution. Thankfully, Brown avoids any of those sweeping generalizations that tend to color such works (only to become less convincing the more you read) and instead creates a portrait that is both thrilling and sympathetic.
Coming to this book with a rather sparse understanding of James II’s life and personality, I found myself delighted to be learning so much about the monarch. While my previous understanding of James was that he was simply priggish and ineffectual, this book presents someone principled and rather capable. Brown makes a claim at one point that James’ personality was ruled by his loyalty and lust, an idea that she reinforces throughout the work. This definitely gives the subject a more romantic air and I particularly enjoyed the sections pertaining to his marriage to Anne Hyde and his mistresses. The Stuart loins were an effective antidote to Cromwell’s puritanism.
A silly, little highlight for me was reading about the absurdity of Mary and Anne during the Glorious Revolution. While it is quite sad, with James cast as a sort of Lear, the passage highlighting Sarah Churchill’s observations of Mary’s behavior in inspecting the palace like a guest at an inn definitely made me chuckle to myself. Similarly, I couldn’t help but smile at the line describing a maid screaming “The Papists have murdered the Princess!” in response to finding Anne’s bed empty following her late night escape from the Cockpit.
I found this to be totally engrossing and easy to digest. Brown assesses the subject’s strengths and weaknesses to present a balanced history of a man who is often overlooked or misunderstood. Making history interesting can often be difficult, but the author excels at this task. I left this book eager to dive more closely into the lives of James' loves and companions, while also gaining a more nuanced understanding of a monarch who I once would have ranked among the least interesting. I look forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my library!
Coming to this book with a rather sparse understanding of James II’s life and personality, I found myself delighted to be learning so much about the monarch. While my previous understanding of James was that he was simply priggish and ineffectual, this book presents someone principled and rather capable. Brown makes a claim at one point that James’ personality was ruled by his loyalty and lust, an idea that she reinforces throughout the work. This definitely gives the subject a more romantic air and I particularly enjoyed the sections pertaining to his marriage to Anne Hyde and his mistresses. The Stuart loins were an effective antidote to Cromwell’s puritanism.
A silly, little highlight for me was reading about the absurdity of Mary and Anne during the Glorious Revolution. While it is quite sad, with James cast as a sort of Lear, the passage highlighting Sarah Churchill’s observations of Mary’s behavior in inspecting the palace like a guest at an inn definitely made me chuckle to myself. Similarly, I couldn’t help but smile at the line describing a maid screaming “The Papists have murdered the Princess!” in response to finding Anne’s bed empty following her late night escape from the Cockpit.
I found this to be totally engrossing and easy to digest. Brown assesses the subject’s strengths and weaknesses to present a balanced history of a man who is often overlooked or misunderstood. Making history interesting can often be difficult, but the author excels at this task. I left this book eager to dive more closely into the lives of James' loves and companions, while also gaining a more nuanced understanding of a monarch who I once would have ranked among the least interesting. I look forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my library!
July 13, 2024
James VII and II (14 October 1633 O.S. – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He was the last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland.James, the second surviving son of King Charles I and his wife, Henrietta Maria of France, was born at St James's Palace.In August 1642, long running political disputes between Charles I and his opponents in Parliament led to the First English Civil War. James and his brother Charles were present at the Battle of Edgehill in October, and narrowly escaped capture by Parliamentarian cavalry.He spent most of the next four years in the Royalist wartime capital of Oxford,where he was made a Master of Arts by the University on 1 November 1642 and served as colonel of a volunteer regiment of foot.Following the surrender of Oxford in June 1646, James was taken to London and held with his younger siblings Henry, Elizabeth and Henrietta in St James's Palace.After the collapse of the Commonwealth in 1660, Charles II was restored to the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland. Although James was the heir presumptive, it seemed unlikely that he would inherit the Crown, as Charles was still a young man capable of fathering children.On 31 December 1660, following his brother's restoration, James was created Duke of Albany in Scotland, to go along with his English title,Duke of York.Upon his return to England, James prompted an immediate controversy by announcing his engagement to Anne Hyde, the daughter of Charles's chief minister, Edward Hyde, and she was pregnant and a commoner. The two wed in secret and James was a devoted father to his children,but he was a philanderer,ruled by both lust and loyalty.James became drawn to the Old Faith and converted to Catholicism.Anne died in 1671 and James remarried to Mary of Modena in 1673.James's reign was said to be a struggle between those who believed that the king was sincerely devoted to liberty of conscience and those who were sceptical of the king's espousals of religious toleration.
June 23, 2024
The Private Life of James II is a totally different slant on this monarch. I didn’t know a great deal about him, but he came to the throne at a time of political upheaval in country divided by religion and anti monarchists. He was the last Stuart King and the only Catholic to take the throne. His belief in the divine right of kings was deeply unpopular with Parliament and after taking the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland, his short reign ended when he fled in 1688, allowing usurper William of Orange to take the throne.
This was a complex time for the people, the monarchy and the church but Justine Brown has teased out the man, rather than the hard facts and politics and it makes for a riveting read, He was clearly an individual of intellect. He was handsome, charming and had numerous ideals. His magnetism was attractive to women and this side of his character is explored in highly entertaining detail. It puts real flesh and personality to a king who’s largely forgotten and is underrated in history. I enjoy these human insights and the research seems impeccable so I feel there’s much truth in this portrayal. An interesting and detailed read about this tempestuous period in British history, accessible fir anyone with an interest in social history.
This was a complex time for the people, the monarchy and the church but Justine Brown has teased out the man, rather than the hard facts and politics and it makes for a riveting read, He was clearly an individual of intellect. He was handsome, charming and had numerous ideals. His magnetism was attractive to women and this side of his character is explored in highly entertaining detail. It puts real flesh and personality to a king who’s largely forgotten and is underrated in history. I enjoy these human insights and the research seems impeccable so I feel there’s much truth in this portrayal. An interesting and detailed read about this tempestuous period in British history, accessible fir anyone with an interest in social history.
June 13, 2024
This biography unveils the personal story of King James II, from his childhood during the English Civil Wars to his triumphal return to England in 1660. As a Restoration-era “rake,” James rose to prominence in the Royal Navy and became a patron of the arts. But his conversion to Catholicism made him a scapegoat and contributed to his downfall. This account explores his complex relationships and the extraordinary figures who shaped his reign as a Stuart monarch.
Engrossing and easy to read, this book held my interest and helped me better understand the personal factors that led to the “Glorious Revolution.” The book doesn’t explore much of James II’s public life, such as his conflicts with Parliament, which can lead to the impression that he was deposed purely because of religious intolerance by the Protestants. The truth is more complex. But the book does what it sets out to do, revealing his private life in a compelling narrative.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Engrossing and easy to read, this book held my interest and helped me better understand the personal factors that led to the “Glorious Revolution.” The book doesn’t explore much of James II’s public life, such as his conflicts with Parliament, which can lead to the impression that he was deposed purely because of religious intolerance by the Protestants. The truth is more complex. But the book does what it sets out to do, revealing his private life in a compelling narrative.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 27, 2025
Very readable and enjoyable. James' personal life is intertwined with the political situation at the time. He wanted to be a good King but that was easier said than done. When time permitted he enjoyed spending his time on a day's hunting, and the evening pursuits being drinking, dancing and wenching.
June 1, 2024
Interesting, informative and well researched. A compelling book that made me learn more about this historical character
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews