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The Mirror of Great Britain
Hardcover
About the author
Clare Jackson
13 books30 followersClare Jackson lectures in the history of political thought at the University of Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 25, 2026
James VI and I has been unfairly treated by historians and biographers since his (possibly) untimely death in 1625. Due to the dual nature of his reign - King of Scotland from 1567 to 1603 and then of 'Great Britain' from 1603 -1625 - most historians have focused solely on his years as King of England. Clare Jackson more than makes up for this oversight by devoting a lot of this book to his time as Scotland's monarch, both as a boy king overseen by a number of regents, to King in his own right. It has often been the case in the past that James Stuart has been ridiculed as a monarch with a paranoia of assassination and a fear of witchcraft, a stereotypical and simplistic portrayal that Jackson dismantles by meticulously creating a far more nuanced impression of a learned and thoughtful individual.
The third trope which this book challenges is that James VI and I laid the groundwork for the abuses of power of his infamous successor Charles I through his 'creation' of the doctrine of the divine right of kings. Whilst there is some evidence for this (Jackson shows how her subject justified his interference in court cases because, as God's anointed one, he had greater legal knowledge than the judges who represented him), her analysis of those writings and speeches upon which these assumptions have been made suggests that it is more subtle and complicated than traditionally thought.
Having said that, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the King's preference to rule without Parliament, choosing instead to issue proclamations, and the current incumbent in the White House! You can draw your own conclusions from that, I think!
Overall, this is a really good portrayal of one of the few British monarchs who was an adept author, poet and, to a lesser extent, diplomat. Well recommended as a revisionist take on an often overlooked historical figure.
The third trope which this book challenges is that James VI and I laid the groundwork for the abuses of power of his infamous successor Charles I through his 'creation' of the doctrine of the divine right of kings. Whilst there is some evidence for this (Jackson shows how her subject justified his interference in court cases because, as God's anointed one, he had greater legal knowledge than the judges who represented him), her analysis of those writings and speeches upon which these assumptions have been made suggests that it is more subtle and complicated than traditionally thought.
Having said that, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the King's preference to rule without Parliament, choosing instead to issue proclamations, and the current incumbent in the White House! You can draw your own conclusions from that, I think!
Overall, this is a really good portrayal of one of the few British monarchs who was an adept author, poet and, to a lesser extent, diplomat. Well recommended as a revisionist take on an often overlooked historical figure.
March 2, 2026
very well written and thorough, it looks at every aspect of James's life, he's time in power, through every twist and turn. i learnt a lot from this book and really enjoyed it, cover to cover
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews