What do you think?
Rate this book
The King and the Catholics: England, Ireland, and the Fight for Religious Freedom, 1780-1829
From beloved historian Antonia Fraser comes the dramatic story of how Catholics in the United Kingdom won back their rights after two centuries of official discrimination.
In the summer of 1780, mob violence swept through London. Nearly one thousand people were killed, looting was widespread, and torch-bearing protestors marched on the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. These were the Gordon Riots: the worst civil disturbance in British history, triggered by an act of Parliament designed to loosen two centuries of systemic oppression of Catholics in the British Isles. While many London Catholics saw their homes ransacked and chapels desecrated, the riots marked a crucial turning point in their fight to return to public life.
Over the next fifty years, factions battled one another to reform the laws of the land: wealthy English Catholics yearned to rejoin the political elite; the protestant aristocracy in Ireland feared an empowered Catholic populace; and the priesthood coveted old authority that royal decree had forbidden. Kings George III and George IV stubbornly refused to address the "Catholic Question" even when pressed by their prime ministers--governments fell over it--and events in America and Europe made many skeptical of disrupting the social order. But in 1829, through the dogged work of charismatic Irish lawyer Daniel O'Connell and with the support of the Duke of Wellington, the Roman Catholic Relief Act finally passed. It was a watershed moment, opening the door to future social reform and the radical transformation of the Victorian age.
The King and the Catholics is a gripping, character-driven example of narrative history at its best. It is also a distant mirror of our own times, reflecting the dire consequences of state-sanctioned intolerance and showing how collective action and the political process can triumph over wrongheaded legislation.
In the summer of 1780, mob violence swept through London. Nearly one thousand people were killed, looting was widespread, and torch-bearing protestors marched on the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. These were the Gordon Riots: the worst civil disturbance in British history, triggered by an act of Parliament designed to loosen two centuries of systemic oppression of Catholics in the British Isles. While many London Catholics saw their homes ransacked and chapels desecrated, the riots marked a crucial turning point in their fight to return to public life.
Over the next fifty years, factions battled one another to reform the laws of the land: wealthy English Catholics yearned to rejoin the political elite; the protestant aristocracy in Ireland feared an empowered Catholic populace; and the priesthood coveted old authority that royal decree had forbidden. Kings George III and George IV stubbornly refused to address the "Catholic Question" even when pressed by their prime ministers--governments fell over it--and events in America and Europe made many skeptical of disrupting the social order. But in 1829, through the dogged work of charismatic Irish lawyer Daniel O'Connell and with the support of the Duke of Wellington, the Roman Catholic Relief Act finally passed. It was a watershed moment, opening the door to future social reform and the radical transformation of the Victorian age.
The King and the Catholics is a gripping, character-driven example of narrative history at its best. It is also a distant mirror of our own times, reflecting the dire consequences of state-sanctioned intolerance and showing how collective action and the political process can triumph over wrongheaded legislation.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2018
113 people are currently reading
2254 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Fraser
183 books1,494 followersAntonia Fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works, including the biographies Mary, Queen of Scots (a 40th anniversary edition was published in May 2009), Cromwell: Our Chief of Men, King Charles II and The Gunpowder Plot (CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger; St Louis Literary Award). She has written five highly praised books which focus on women in history, The Weaker Vessel: Women's Lot in Seventeenth Century Britain (Wolfson Award for History, 1984), The Warrior Queens: Boadecia's Chariot, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette: The Journey (Franco-British Literary Prize 2001), which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola in 2006 and most recently Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King. She was awarded the Norton Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000. Antonia Fraser was made DBE in 2011 for her services to literature. Her most recent book is Must You Go?, celebrating her life with Harold Pinter, who died on Christmas Eve 2008. She lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 1, 2018
In 1533 England was a Catholic country. King Henry VIII professed obedience to the Pope in Rome and Catholicism was the official state religion.
By 1534 England was a Protestant country. The official state religion was the Church of England and Henry was it’s head. And by the way had a new wife; the second of ultimately six.
Citizens of England became Protestant. They could not be Catholic. Catholicism was banned in England, Ireland and Scotland by governmental decree. This did not sit well with all people, especially the Irish.
Lady Antonia Fraser begins her exploration of this issue beginning in 1780 and makes clear that while time has passed not much has changed. The Irish Parliament has been dissolved and there is much unrest. England looks at Ireland as a millstone. The choice is to remain obstinate and refuse to accept any Catholic participation in government or to pass the Catholic Emancipation Bill and allow Irish Catholics to sit in Parliament. For nearly fifty years this was the battle being fought. World events and leaders impact England in subtle ways. For example, Napoleon and his armies dominate Europe. In response, England feels it must maintain a large military. The Irish are reluctant to fight because they cannot have Mass before battle. Their belief is “If I am good enough to fight for you, I am entitled to my religion,” Oddly it seems to harken to the cry of 18 year old Americans in the 1960’s, “If I’m old enough to fight, I’m old enough to vote.”
The Prince of Wales, the future George IV married a Catholic woman and served as Regent for ten years for his dying father. Of course, when he ascends the throne, he marries a Protestant Princess.
The fight to enact the Catholic Emancipation is detailed and the England and Irish politicians are well drawn. Lady Fraser has authored several biographies and the skill she developed in that genre serves her well as she brings to life the numerous characters who populate the nearly 50 years from conflict to inclusion.
On 13 April 1829, Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic Irishman took his seat in the English Parliament. But not all was resolved. England and Ireland continued physical strife well into the 1960’s. Current laws bar Catholics from serving as Prime Minister or Chancellor of England. Prince Harry could not marry a Catholic so Meghan Markle converted.
This is a well researched, well documented book about a non headline grabbing topic. The authors skill and command of language elevate it to entertaining and enriching status.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My reviews are unbiased and my own. #netgalley #thekingandthecatholics
By 1534 England was a Protestant country. The official state religion was the Church of England and Henry was it’s head. And by the way had a new wife; the second of ultimately six.
Citizens of England became Protestant. They could not be Catholic. Catholicism was banned in England, Ireland and Scotland by governmental decree. This did not sit well with all people, especially the Irish.
Lady Antonia Fraser begins her exploration of this issue beginning in 1780 and makes clear that while time has passed not much has changed. The Irish Parliament has been dissolved and there is much unrest. England looks at Ireland as a millstone. The choice is to remain obstinate and refuse to accept any Catholic participation in government or to pass the Catholic Emancipation Bill and allow Irish Catholics to sit in Parliament. For nearly fifty years this was the battle being fought. World events and leaders impact England in subtle ways. For example, Napoleon and his armies dominate Europe. In response, England feels it must maintain a large military. The Irish are reluctant to fight because they cannot have Mass before battle. Their belief is “If I am good enough to fight for you, I am entitled to my religion,” Oddly it seems to harken to the cry of 18 year old Americans in the 1960’s, “If I’m old enough to fight, I’m old enough to vote.”
The Prince of Wales, the future George IV married a Catholic woman and served as Regent for ten years for his dying father. Of course, when he ascends the throne, he marries a Protestant Princess.
The fight to enact the Catholic Emancipation is detailed and the England and Irish politicians are well drawn. Lady Fraser has authored several biographies and the skill she developed in that genre serves her well as she brings to life the numerous characters who populate the nearly 50 years from conflict to inclusion.
On 13 April 1829, Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic Irishman took his seat in the English Parliament. But not all was resolved. England and Ireland continued physical strife well into the 1960’s. Current laws bar Catholics from serving as Prime Minister or Chancellor of England. Prince Harry could not marry a Catholic so Meghan Markle converted.
This is a well researched, well documented book about a non headline grabbing topic. The authors skill and command of language elevate it to entertaining and enriching status.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My reviews are unbiased and my own. #netgalley #thekingandthecatholics
October 1, 2018
In 1533 England was a Catholic country. King Henry VIII professed obedience to the Pope in Rome and Catholicism was the official state religion.
By 1534 England was a Protestant country. The official state religion was the Church of England and Henry was it’s head. And by the way had a new wife; the second of ultimately six.
Citizens of England became Protestant. They could not be Catholic. Catholicism was banned in England, Ireland and Scotland by governmental decree. This did not sit well with all people, especially the Irish.
Lady Antonia Fraser begins her exploration of this issue beginning in 1780 and makes clear that while time has passed not much has changed. The Irish Parliament has been dissolved and there is much unrest. England looks at Ireland as a millstone. The choice is to remain obstinate and refuse to accept any Catholic participation in government or to pass the Catholic Emancipation Bill and allow Irish Catholics to sit in Parliament. For nearly fifty years this was the battle being fought. World events and leaders impact England in subtle ways. For example, Napoleon and his armies dominate Europe. In response, England feels it must maintain a large military. The Irish are reluctant to fight because they cannot have Mass before battle. Their belief is “If I am good enough to fight for you, I am entitled to my religion,” Oddly it seems to harken to the cry of 18 year old Americans in the 1960’s, “If I’m old enough to fight, I’m old enough to vote.”
The Prince of Wales, the future George IV married a Catholic woman and served as Regent for ten years for his dying father. Of course, when he ascends the throne, he marries a Protestant Princess.
The fight to enact the Catholic Emancipation is detailed and the England and Irish politicians are well drawn. Lady Fraser has authored several biographies and the skill she developed in that genre serves her well as she brings to life the numerous characters who populate the nearly 50 years from conflict to inclusion.
On 13 April 1829, Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic Irishman took his seat in the English Parliament. But not all was resolved. England and Ireland continued physical strife well into the 1960’s. Current laws bar Catholics from serving as Prime Minister or Chancellor of England. Prince Harry could not marry a Catholic so Meghan Markle converted.
This is a well researched, well documented book about a non headline grabbing topic. The authors skill and command of language elevate it to entertaining and enriching status.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My reviews are unbiased and my own. #netgalley #thekingandthecatholics
By 1534 England was a Protestant country. The official state religion was the Church of England and Henry was it’s head. And by the way had a new wife; the second of ultimately six.
Citizens of England became Protestant. They could not be Catholic. Catholicism was banned in England, Ireland and Scotland by governmental decree. This did not sit well with all people, especially the Irish.
Lady Antonia Fraser begins her exploration of this issue beginning in 1780 and makes clear that while time has passed not much has changed. The Irish Parliament has been dissolved and there is much unrest. England looks at Ireland as a millstone. The choice is to remain obstinate and refuse to accept any Catholic participation in government or to pass the Catholic Emancipation Bill and allow Irish Catholics to sit in Parliament. For nearly fifty years this was the battle being fought. World events and leaders impact England in subtle ways. For example, Napoleon and his armies dominate Europe. In response, England feels it must maintain a large military. The Irish are reluctant to fight because they cannot have Mass before battle. Their belief is “If I am good enough to fight for you, I am entitled to my religion,” Oddly it seems to harken to the cry of 18 year old Americans in the 1960’s, “If I’m old enough to fight, I’m old enough to vote.”
The Prince of Wales, the future George IV married a Catholic woman and served as Regent for ten years for his dying father. Of course, when he ascends the throne, he marries a Protestant Princess.
The fight to enact the Catholic Emancipation is detailed and the England and Irish politicians are well drawn. Lady Fraser has authored several biographies and the skill she developed in that genre serves her well as she brings to life the numerous characters who populate the nearly 50 years from conflict to inclusion.
On 13 April 1829, Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic Irishman took his seat in the English Parliament. But not all was resolved. England and Ireland continued physical strife well into the 1960’s. Current laws bar Catholics from serving as Prime Minister or Chancellor of England. Prince Harry could not marry a Catholic so Meghan Markle converted.
This is a well researched, well documented book about a non headline grabbing topic. The authors skill and command of language elevate it to entertaining and enriching status.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My reviews are unbiased and my own. #netgalley #thekingandthecatholics
July 21, 2018
I have enjoyed many of Antonia Fraser’s previous works and enjoyed this latest book, “The King and the Catholics: The Fight for Rights 1829,” very much. Fraser herself is a convert to Catholicism, whereas I was born what she terms, ‘a cradle Catholic,’ of Irish and Italian heritage. As such, I found this a very interesting read about the political term of the day, ‘the Catholic Question.’
As the author says, there are modern comparisons that are not too hard to draw. Catholic citizens were, at one time, very much second class citizens in the UK. Their marriages invalid, their schools outlawed, unable to buy, or inherit, land and much more. This fight for fights begins with the Gordon Riots against Catholic Relief in 1780 (riots in which the astounding number of over one thousand people were killed) and ends fifty years later, with the Parliamentary Act for Catholic Emancipation.
This is a story of pride, hatred, intolerance and duels. It involves many important and influential people, from the Prince of Wales (later George IV) who secretly married a Catholic, the widowed Mrs Maria FItzherbert, the Duke of Wellington, Lord George Gordon, Daniel O’Connell and more. There is the ever troubling issue of Ireland and then there is the French Revolution, which saw a flood of refugees from France and the Low Countries. Faced with Catholic refugees, there was a wave of compassion from the public, which possibly did much to help pave the way for later political change.
Overall, another interesting title from Antonia Fraser. She has obviously researched the subject well, but this is a readable, enjoyable account, never heavy or dry. It is, in fact, everything a popular history title should be; detailed but accessible.
As the author says, there are modern comparisons that are not too hard to draw. Catholic citizens were, at one time, very much second class citizens in the UK. Their marriages invalid, their schools outlawed, unable to buy, or inherit, land and much more. This fight for fights begins with the Gordon Riots against Catholic Relief in 1780 (riots in which the astounding number of over one thousand people were killed) and ends fifty years later, with the Parliamentary Act for Catholic Emancipation.
This is a story of pride, hatred, intolerance and duels. It involves many important and influential people, from the Prince of Wales (later George IV) who secretly married a Catholic, the widowed Mrs Maria FItzherbert, the Duke of Wellington, Lord George Gordon, Daniel O’Connell and more. There is the ever troubling issue of Ireland and then there is the French Revolution, which saw a flood of refugees from France and the Low Countries. Faced with Catholic refugees, there was a wave of compassion from the public, which possibly did much to help pave the way for later political change.
Overall, another interesting title from Antonia Fraser. She has obviously researched the subject well, but this is a readable, enjoyable account, never heavy or dry. It is, in fact, everything a popular history title should be; detailed but accessible.
September 3, 2018
I read a lot of nonfiction. Given my interest in the blend of history, religion, and politics, I expected to love this book. And so I'm surprised by how much I didn't love it.
Right from the start, I felt like I'd been dropped in the midst of a maelstrom of activity. There is no buildup or attempt to ground us in the moment. Lots of names, dates, and events are tossed about with no clear focus. I found myself struggling to connect in any way with the content.
This is a short book at just 281 pages without the listings of references, sources, and index at the end. I think a big part of the problem is that the author attempts to cover a vast and complex period of history in too short a space.
I have no doubt that the author put a ton of time into her research and writing. If you have a good grasp on this period in history, then this book will likely serve well as an addition to your library. If you have a casual interest and/or you're looking for a cohesive examination of this topic, you might want to begin elsewhere.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine.*
Right from the start, I felt like I'd been dropped in the midst of a maelstrom of activity. There is no buildup or attempt to ground us in the moment. Lots of names, dates, and events are tossed about with no clear focus. I found myself struggling to connect in any way with the content.
This is a short book at just 281 pages without the listings of references, sources, and index at the end. I think a big part of the problem is that the author attempts to cover a vast and complex period of history in too short a space.
I have no doubt that the author put a ton of time into her research and writing. If you have a good grasp on this period in history, then this book will likely serve well as an addition to your library. If you have a casual interest and/or you're looking for a cohesive examination of this topic, you might want to begin elsewhere.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine.*
November 14, 2018
Towards the end of his presidency, Barack Obama was asked why he and Secretary Hillary Clinton only tried to legislate against the responsible gun owners, ‘the good guys’ as opposed to criminals. The question was posed by a gun shop owner in an auditorium crowd during a question and answer segment following the town hall meeting in Elkhart, Indiana in 2016. Succinctly but with his characteristic pauses for more thoughtful erudition, Obama replied that legislating against any gun issue was actually impossible. As soon as any US politician raised any objection to the current firearm laws in that country they got blocked, Obama argued. Far from being able to ban specific guns or remove them from responsible people, the President said that he couldn’t even amend current legislation regarding the sale of firearms to dangerous people without tremendous opposition, crippling the government’s ability to effectively deal with the problem by legal means. A large reason why this is such a hot button issue is because the right to bear arms is written into the US Constitution. Those who tamper with it are accused with tampering with the very DNA of the nation, no matter what the subject is.
A large proportion of the citizens of the USA have clung to their right to defend themselves against the “redcoats” for almost the same amount of time that the Untied Kingdom proscribed Catholicism. And as Antonia Fraser reveals it was for similar reasons. Since the Reformation, Protestants in what became the United Kingdom had felt similarly strong emotions regarding the question of Catholicism. England had stayed an independent Kingdom because it had fought catholic Spain as a Protestant nation. After two disastrous catholic monarchs, the importance of retaining this defining religion as a part of the state was reinforced during the glorious revolution of 1688, ensuring that no catholic could effectively do anything public in Britain and the Protestant model became the bedrock of the constitution. By the late 18th century this three pillared constitution, which served to both maintain the sovereignty of parliament, the integrity of the monarchy, and the ascendancy of the Church of England was as sacrosanct to United Kingdom as the Federal constitution is today to the United States.
Even after over two hundred years, people who had as much to fear from Catholicism as they did from a rainy day, maintained Elizabethan levels of paranoia and loathing for any popery and read the first tentative steps towards Catholic relief as the first rip in the fabric of the nation.
As the blurb on the back of The King and the Catholics says this book begins with those first tentative steps and the terrible reaction. This reaction was known as the Gordon Riots and it was the worst incident of public disorder London had seen in living memory.
The scale of paranoia and hatred against Catholics in England came to the surface during this tumult. No longer a subject of theory and heated discussion but out in the streets and burning in the night sky for all to see. The Gordon Riots demonstrated why so little progress in religious toleration had been made since the reformation. The ancestral, culturally incubated, loathing of Catholicism was still the thing that what many thought made them who they were.
It would take another enemy to shake that belief. The French Revolution, and then Napoleon, had a way of altering everything they touched. It didn’t matter that by 1815 both seemed to have been defeated, because the box had been opened and Revolution was still tangibly in the air. So horrified by the godless butchery in France, many had been unable to withhold their sympathy for the catholic refugees fleeing the Terror. Not only that but as Britain was at war with Revolutionary and Napoleonic france, she was then by extension, allied with the old catholic order and invested in seeing it once more victorious. Not only did the British government expend vast sums of treasure and countless lives in the downfall of the Revolution and Napoleon, they opened their doors to the refugees, many of whom were of the very religion the Gordon Riots had attempted to eradicate.
In the wake of the great French wars unrest and discontent spread across the country. Reform, not revolution was now in the air, and the next great shift in the balance brought the catholic question, shelved during the conflict due to an old King’s unbalanced mind, back to the fore. The shift came from Ireland.
As the book title says, Antonia Fraser has identified that this fifty year struggle to allow religious freedom for Catholics comes down to Them and the King. Or indeed perhaps a better way to put it would be that the struggle was between the Catholics and the Kings. This book focuses on no less than four, and only two of them actually wore a crown. The other two were kings in their own right, however. One was the voice of the people, the uncrowned King of Ireland, King Dan, Daniel O’Connell. The other, King Arthur, the great Duke of Wellington.
Fraser blends together the story from the Gordon riots to the final victory in a book written in the finest narrative tradition, reminding us that her generation, produced some of the finest history book ever written. Explaining what it meant to be a catholic in England at this time and how it could be sustained. How the ground was laid for change, the trials and triumphs of reconciling the Irish and English Catholics. How the liberator O’Connell never gave up and stormed all in his path. And how the explicitly anti reform, ultra Tory, Duke of Wellington, who at heart only wished the tranquility of the nation and would support whatever he felt best answered that brief, was the only man in Britain, who once convinced, had the ability to give an ultimatum to George IV. And how the two George’s were men trapped by a constitutional oath (and their human frailties) which they felt they could not break without nullifying the authority state they reigned over.
The book is as compulsive, detailed and human as the most stunning political exposés. Not only that but it offers a surprisingly inspiring and positive story to what increasingly seems to be a jaded and angry world. It will keep you gripped to the final dramatic finish.
A large proportion of the citizens of the USA have clung to their right to defend themselves against the “redcoats” for almost the same amount of time that the Untied Kingdom proscribed Catholicism. And as Antonia Fraser reveals it was for similar reasons. Since the Reformation, Protestants in what became the United Kingdom had felt similarly strong emotions regarding the question of Catholicism. England had stayed an independent Kingdom because it had fought catholic Spain as a Protestant nation. After two disastrous catholic monarchs, the importance of retaining this defining religion as a part of the state was reinforced during the glorious revolution of 1688, ensuring that no catholic could effectively do anything public in Britain and the Protestant model became the bedrock of the constitution. By the late 18th century this three pillared constitution, which served to both maintain the sovereignty of parliament, the integrity of the monarchy, and the ascendancy of the Church of England was as sacrosanct to United Kingdom as the Federal constitution is today to the United States.
Even after over two hundred years, people who had as much to fear from Catholicism as they did from a rainy day, maintained Elizabethan levels of paranoia and loathing for any popery and read the first tentative steps towards Catholic relief as the first rip in the fabric of the nation.
As the blurb on the back of The King and the Catholics says this book begins with those first tentative steps and the terrible reaction. This reaction was known as the Gordon Riots and it was the worst incident of public disorder London had seen in living memory.
The scale of paranoia and hatred against Catholics in England came to the surface during this tumult. No longer a subject of theory and heated discussion but out in the streets and burning in the night sky for all to see. The Gordon Riots demonstrated why so little progress in religious toleration had been made since the reformation. The ancestral, culturally incubated, loathing of Catholicism was still the thing that what many thought made them who they were.
It would take another enemy to shake that belief. The French Revolution, and then Napoleon, had a way of altering everything they touched. It didn’t matter that by 1815 both seemed to have been defeated, because the box had been opened and Revolution was still tangibly in the air. So horrified by the godless butchery in France, many had been unable to withhold their sympathy for the catholic refugees fleeing the Terror. Not only that but as Britain was at war with Revolutionary and Napoleonic france, she was then by extension, allied with the old catholic order and invested in seeing it once more victorious. Not only did the British government expend vast sums of treasure and countless lives in the downfall of the Revolution and Napoleon, they opened their doors to the refugees, many of whom were of the very religion the Gordon Riots had attempted to eradicate.
In the wake of the great French wars unrest and discontent spread across the country. Reform, not revolution was now in the air, and the next great shift in the balance brought the catholic question, shelved during the conflict due to an old King’s unbalanced mind, back to the fore. The shift came from Ireland.
As the book title says, Antonia Fraser has identified that this fifty year struggle to allow religious freedom for Catholics comes down to Them and the King. Or indeed perhaps a better way to put it would be that the struggle was between the Catholics and the Kings. This book focuses on no less than four, and only two of them actually wore a crown. The other two were kings in their own right, however. One was the voice of the people, the uncrowned King of Ireland, King Dan, Daniel O’Connell. The other, King Arthur, the great Duke of Wellington.
Fraser blends together the story from the Gordon riots to the final victory in a book written in the finest narrative tradition, reminding us that her generation, produced some of the finest history book ever written. Explaining what it meant to be a catholic in England at this time and how it could be sustained. How the ground was laid for change, the trials and triumphs of reconciling the Irish and English Catholics. How the liberator O’Connell never gave up and stormed all in his path. And how the explicitly anti reform, ultra Tory, Duke of Wellington, who at heart only wished the tranquility of the nation and would support whatever he felt best answered that brief, was the only man in Britain, who once convinced, had the ability to give an ultimatum to George IV. And how the two George’s were men trapped by a constitutional oath (and their human frailties) which they felt they could not break without nullifying the authority state they reigned over.
The book is as compulsive, detailed and human as the most stunning political exposés. Not only that but it offers a surprisingly inspiring and positive story to what increasingly seems to be a jaded and angry world. It will keep you gripped to the final dramatic finish.
October 9, 2018
I was rooting around on Net Galley looking for some good nonfiction when I ran across this title. Many thanks to Net Galley and Doubleday for the DRC, which I read free in exchange for this honest review. This book is now available to the public.
Fraser examines the fight for Catholic Emancipation in Britain, from the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of the late 1700s until roughly fifty years later. It is appalling that so much time, effort and money was needed for so small a thing as religious freedom, but there it is.
My own interest is more in the direction of Catholic history, with Irish history as a major part of that, and so portions of this well written, painstakingly researched and documented tome drew me more than others. I don’t care a whit what the king or any other members of the royal family say, want, or do, so for those with a closer interest than mine, this might well be a five star read. Parts of it are a trifle dry, but then Fraser livens it up with brief, lively sketches of the historical figures involved.
A major player in the struggle was the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, and I read all of the passages in which this eloquent barrister is featured with tremendous interest. I also enjoyed seeing ways in which events in the larger world influenced events in the UK, from the French Revolution to the Boer Wars in South Africa.
An excellent addition to the library of any that are interested in the topic.
Fraser examines the fight for Catholic Emancipation in Britain, from the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of the late 1700s until roughly fifty years later. It is appalling that so much time, effort and money was needed for so small a thing as religious freedom, but there it is.
My own interest is more in the direction of Catholic history, with Irish history as a major part of that, and so portions of this well written, painstakingly researched and documented tome drew me more than others. I don’t care a whit what the king or any other members of the royal family say, want, or do, so for those with a closer interest than mine, this might well be a five star read. Parts of it are a trifle dry, but then Fraser livens it up with brief, lively sketches of the historical figures involved.
A major player in the struggle was the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, and I read all of the passages in which this eloquent barrister is featured with tremendous interest. I also enjoyed seeing ways in which events in the larger world influenced events in the UK, from the French Revolution to the Boer Wars in South Africa.
An excellent addition to the library of any that are interested in the topic.
August 22, 2019
Oh my goodness! What a book! There was so much information that I was unaware of, and this book lays it out in explicit detail. Between Ireland and England, the great debate that raged for decades over the "Catholic Question."
Not only does this book answer a lot of questions, but it dives into the backgrounds of the men involved, giving quite a bit of detail about motives and so much more! A great read!
Not only does this book answer a lot of questions, but it dives into the backgrounds of the men involved, giving quite a bit of detail about motives and so much more! A great read!
May 23, 2018
A gripping account of the fight for Catholic Emancipation, starting wth the bloody anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780, and finishing with the triumphant passing of the Emancipation Bill in 1829. There is a cast of remarkable characters, chief among them the great champion of Catholic Emancipation, the Irishman Daniel O'Connell. THen there is the Prince of Wales, later George IV, who actually married a Catholic, Maria Fitzherbert (the marriage was invalid because of her religion). And there are Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington, both originally opponents of Emancipation, but later coming, reluctantly, to support it (the Duke of Wellington even fought a duel over it).
ANtonia Fraser tells this dramatic story in a way that the general reader can easily follow, bringing this fascinating episode in British history vividly to life.
ANtonia Fraser tells this dramatic story in a way that the general reader can easily follow, bringing this fascinating episode in British history vividly to life.
December 28, 2020
A good book, presenting a history of the United Kingdom’s “Catholic Emancipation” in the early 19th century. This work covers a major shift in British culture & politics, the moving of Catholics, across the empire, from outside the political sphere to equal participants. The book starts with the Gordon Riots of 1780, when London’s populace violently pushed back on the first attempt to allow Catholics minor additional legal rights. It ends with the successful passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in 1829 by a conservative government. The work outlines events of the 16th and 17th centuries, from Queen “Bloody” Mary through to the Gunpowder Plot, and the resulting removal of Catholics from the British political system and the outlawing of the religion through the British isles. The author provides the situation in the late 18th century, where the practice of Catholicism had become more public though still officially outlawed. The book then dives into the 50 year movement to bring Catholicism back into a legal framework and Catholics into the political system. Along the way major figures of Regency England are introduced, to include the Hanoverian royal family, Wellington, Peel, Canning, O’Donnell, Grenville, along with many others. It is a story filled with political maneuvers, great speeches, and a few duels. Of course, the Anglo-Irish play a major role in the story. Ireland provided some of the most rabid members of the anti-Catholic establishments, major figures in the populist movement which eventually tipped the balance, and the savvy politicians who knew how to end the debate in the most efficient manner. My one quip, the narrative only concentrated on the question of Catholic Emancipation, it barely mentioned, not even as background, the concurrent and related debates of the period (parliamentary reforms, the corn laws, and questions of empire). One is left with, I think, a bit of an imbalanced view of the situation due to this omission. Nonetheless, it is a good book that goes out of its way to detail each point of view and provide background on every major figure involved. Great for those wanting to better understand early 19th century British politics. Highly recommended as a study of a “culture war” in a democracy, from start to finish.
January 12, 2022
I'd actually rate this 3.5 stars. It's superbly researched, but it loses points because the author loves diving into too-much-information/minutiae overload territory on a number of topics, such as dueling. They're interesting in their own right, but they do feel distracting as you try to maintain the main reading thrust of the book. A passing familiarity with how Britain found itself in its religious situation is also recommended; this isn't a book for neophytes.
January 12, 2025
An interesting topic exhaustively researched, to the point of excess, unless the color of politicians socks and waistcoats while speaking is important to you.
July 8, 2025
Remarkable how certain past societies viewed Catholics as degenerate subversives, much like today they are perceived as contributing to mass immigration in the West.
September 9, 2022
Clearly this book was well researched by the author. This time in history I was only vaguely aware of but reading this has opened my mind to the many struggles Catholics at this time had to endure. An interesting read.
October 30, 2025
Accessible 19th Century Politics
For me Antonia Fraser’s The King and the Catholics: The Fight for Rights 1829 is a frustrating but fascinating book on one of the most significant yet often neglected moments in British history: the long and bitter struggle for Catholic Emancipation. I have always found her writing style difficult to content with and this was no different. But this is an event that was desperate for a popular historian to tackle and so in the end was worth getting through. To be fair to Fraser, she approaches the subject with characteristic thoroughness and a keen eye for drama and is able to weave together politics, religion, and personality into a rich historical narrative.
The book explores the decades-long conflict that led to the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829, which finally granted British and Irish Catholics the right to sit in Parliament and hold public office. Fraser vividly portrays the key figures involved: King George IV, a vain and reluctant monarch torn between prejudice and duty; the Duke of Wellington, a soldier forced into the unfamiliar role of reformer; and Daniel O’Connell, the fiery Irish lawyer whose mass mobilisation made reform unavoidable. Fraser’s sympathy clearly lies with O’Connell and the Catholics, and she captures the moral urgency of their struggle with conviction and insight.
As I have said above, despite its historical importance and Fraser’s undeniable expertise, The King and the Catholics is not an easy read. Her writing, while elegant and erudite, can be dense and meandering, often weighed down by excessive detail and digression. The narrative loses focus under the weight of its own scholarship, making it harder for readers to stay fully engaged with the story’s momentum. What might have been a gripping, fast-paced account of political tension occasionally feels slowed by ornate phrasing and a somewhat uneven structure.
That said, The King and the Catholics rewards perseverance. Fraser’s ability to evoke the atmosphere of early 19th-century Britain, a country wrestling with questions of identity, tolerance, and authority, remains impressive. Her portraits of the central figures are insightful and nuanced, and her command of the historical material is beyond question.
In the end, The King and the Catholics is an admirable but challenging read. I enjoyed this book, but any longer and I fear I would have lost interest. I am very interested in early 19th Century British politics, the characters, the society, the political thought. A time of difficulty, but also of great and talented statesmen. These people must not be forgotten as it is extremely important in understanding who we are and what the UK stands for. Do pick this up, but caution; this may require some background reading first or else it will become a very confusing quagmire of political history.
For me Antonia Fraser’s The King and the Catholics: The Fight for Rights 1829 is a frustrating but fascinating book on one of the most significant yet often neglected moments in British history: the long and bitter struggle for Catholic Emancipation. I have always found her writing style difficult to content with and this was no different. But this is an event that was desperate for a popular historian to tackle and so in the end was worth getting through. To be fair to Fraser, she approaches the subject with characteristic thoroughness and a keen eye for drama and is able to weave together politics, religion, and personality into a rich historical narrative.
The book explores the decades-long conflict that led to the passing of the Catholic Relief Act 1829, which finally granted British and Irish Catholics the right to sit in Parliament and hold public office. Fraser vividly portrays the key figures involved: King George IV, a vain and reluctant monarch torn between prejudice and duty; the Duke of Wellington, a soldier forced into the unfamiliar role of reformer; and Daniel O’Connell, the fiery Irish lawyer whose mass mobilisation made reform unavoidable. Fraser’s sympathy clearly lies with O’Connell and the Catholics, and she captures the moral urgency of their struggle with conviction and insight.
As I have said above, despite its historical importance and Fraser’s undeniable expertise, The King and the Catholics is not an easy read. Her writing, while elegant and erudite, can be dense and meandering, often weighed down by excessive detail and digression. The narrative loses focus under the weight of its own scholarship, making it harder for readers to stay fully engaged with the story’s momentum. What might have been a gripping, fast-paced account of political tension occasionally feels slowed by ornate phrasing and a somewhat uneven structure.
That said, The King and the Catholics rewards perseverance. Fraser’s ability to evoke the atmosphere of early 19th-century Britain, a country wrestling with questions of identity, tolerance, and authority, remains impressive. Her portraits of the central figures are insightful and nuanced, and her command of the historical material is beyond question.
In the end, The King and the Catholics is an admirable but challenging read. I enjoyed this book, but any longer and I fear I would have lost interest. I am very interested in early 19th Century British politics, the characters, the society, the political thought. A time of difficulty, but also of great and talented statesmen. These people must not be forgotten as it is extremely important in understanding who we are and what the UK stands for. Do pick this up, but caution; this may require some background reading first or else it will become a very confusing quagmire of political history.
January 1, 2019
What do events two centuries ago have to do with life today? If you can say “religious freedom”, “bigotry”, and “anti-Catholicism”, then those phrases should be enough to help contemporary readers understand how Protestant bigotry against “Papists” kept millions of people in second-class citizen status for centuries. More importantly, though, Fraser’s book illustrates how the peaceful protests of activists like Daniel O’Connell and Catholic and Protestant aristocrats overcame such bigotry.
The heroes of the book are the Duke of Wellington and O’Connell; the anti-Catholic bigotry of “beloved” writers like William Wordsworth and Robert Southey is simply disgusting. The irrational anti-Catholic positions of George III and George IV testify to the inherent contradiction of the British monarchy: if a British king thought he was forced to uphold only Protestant Christianity, then he could not help those who believe in the Church which Protestantism left. Those kings, who blocked Catholic Emancipation for forty years, also deserve our disgust for their bigotry against millions of their Catholic subjects.
However, the contemporary pro-life movement’s emphasis on peaceful protest and legislative action parallels O’Connell’s methods to provide civil rights for the millions of Catholics in Britain at the time. The parallels are inescapable, especially when contrasted against the hostile, Antifa tactics which obstructionist Democrats endorse to keep abortion legal throughout the nine months of pregnancy for any reason whatsoever. That they want to have infanticide and euthanasia legalized makes pro-life efforts more vital in the new year and beyond.
Finally, I disagree with the opinions of the critics on the back cover about the quality of the writing. In many places, passages are not as mellifluous as they could be; a clearer chronological order would have helped. The uneven flow probably accounted for a reading which took three days instead of one.
The heroes of the book are the Duke of Wellington and O’Connell; the anti-Catholic bigotry of “beloved” writers like William Wordsworth and Robert Southey is simply disgusting. The irrational anti-Catholic positions of George III and George IV testify to the inherent contradiction of the British monarchy: if a British king thought he was forced to uphold only Protestant Christianity, then he could not help those who believe in the Church which Protestantism left. Those kings, who blocked Catholic Emancipation for forty years, also deserve our disgust for their bigotry against millions of their Catholic subjects.
However, the contemporary pro-life movement’s emphasis on peaceful protest and legislative action parallels O’Connell’s methods to provide civil rights for the millions of Catholics in Britain at the time. The parallels are inescapable, especially when contrasted against the hostile, Antifa tactics which obstructionist Democrats endorse to keep abortion legal throughout the nine months of pregnancy for any reason whatsoever. That they want to have infanticide and euthanasia legalized makes pro-life efforts more vital in the new year and beyond.
Finally, I disagree with the opinions of the critics on the back cover about the quality of the writing. In many places, passages are not as mellifluous as they could be; a clearer chronological order would have helped. The uneven flow probably accounted for a reading which took three days instead of one.
November 28, 2018
If you want facts about history and you want them delivered with a dose of intelligent humour, then you want Antonia Fraser. I am endlessly amazed how she can make even the driest of topics interesting for the common reader. This book is no exception to her excellence.
This is a very well-researched and interesting book. I have to say, prior to beginning religious studies this last year, I hadn't realised quite how much people have had to struggle over the centuries for something that we still take for granted, that right to religious freedom and expression of our faith. In this book, Fraser gives you a real, up-close and personal look at what was happening in the world of the Catholics and their fight to survive in a society that had changed around them.
This is a brilliant book. It is witty, interesting and most of all, informative. There were countless passages that I felt it was necessary to highlight and come back to read again later. I strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this significant period in history.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a very well-researched and interesting book. I have to say, prior to beginning religious studies this last year, I hadn't realised quite how much people have had to struggle over the centuries for something that we still take for granted, that right to religious freedom and expression of our faith. In this book, Fraser gives you a real, up-close and personal look at what was happening in the world of the Catholics and their fight to survive in a society that had changed around them.
This is a brilliant book. It is witty, interesting and most of all, informative. There were countless passages that I felt it was necessary to highlight and come back to read again later. I strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this significant period in history.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
January 28, 2019
Given the amount of research required to produce this book, my rating is probably a bit harsh. No doubt, there was a lot of work involved here. The problem is in the presentation. Perhaps if I were British, or if I had a much more extensive understanding of British history and government structure, I would have enjoyed this book more. Instead, I was left to go online and look up some historical events referenced in the text. Meanwhile, in other areas the amount of side events described and the details were frustrating. It seems like Fraser was stuck between writing a much longer and more extensive book versus a slimmer and more publicly-accessible piece. The result, at least for me, was a disappointment.
November 15, 2018
This book needed an editor BADLY. There's no coherence. It jumps all over the place. It reads more like notes for the books that were never assembled into a story. Interesting topic but boring book.
August 22, 2018
As a reader of history, especially English history I knew that Catholics were not allowed to be part of the English government since the 17th century but my knowledge about how this changed was negligible. This book (read as an eARC from Edelweiss) details the fight for Catholic emancipation in the early 19th century and the 50 years preceding. Antonia Fraser is of course a renowned historian and she details this history well but perhaps it is a subject that will not grab the general reader as much as some of her previous books.
The King of the title is actually 2 kings: George III and his son George IV (for a long time the Prince of Wales and then Prince Regent as his father fell into mental illness). Both of these kings as well as their entire royal house could trace their ascension to the British throne because they were NOT Catholics and being Protestant was required by law. Although the world was changing, the British royal house as well as most of the members of the House of Lords (the hereditary nobility of England) did not feel that changing the law to allow Catholics to vote and become members of the Lords & the Commons was necessary. To be truthful, most of the common folk did not think much of Catholics (or Papists) either.
Nevertheless the constant unrest in Ireland, a country conquered by Oliver Cromwell of England in the mid 17th century and treated as a far off colony with Protestant nobility could not continue to be ignored. The Irish sent many of their - Catholic - men to fight the Napoleonic Wars with the British and this fact did help as Catholic emancipation was pushed by the traditional Catholic English nobility (headed by the Duke of Norfolk) as well as the Irish. Two of the main characters in this book, the Duke of Wellington who ended up as Prime Minister at the end of the 1820's and Daniel O'Connell, an Irish lawyer, were instrumental in bringing about the 1829 law giving civil rights to Catholics. This book is excellent in bringing these two men and their fight for emancipation (in Wellington's case a fight he only took up reluctantly) to life.
The King of the title is actually 2 kings: George III and his son George IV (for a long time the Prince of Wales and then Prince Regent as his father fell into mental illness). Both of these kings as well as their entire royal house could trace their ascension to the British throne because they were NOT Catholics and being Protestant was required by law. Although the world was changing, the British royal house as well as most of the members of the House of Lords (the hereditary nobility of England) did not feel that changing the law to allow Catholics to vote and become members of the Lords & the Commons was necessary. To be truthful, most of the common folk did not think much of Catholics (or Papists) either.
Nevertheless the constant unrest in Ireland, a country conquered by Oliver Cromwell of England in the mid 17th century and treated as a far off colony with Protestant nobility could not continue to be ignored. The Irish sent many of their - Catholic - men to fight the Napoleonic Wars with the British and this fact did help as Catholic emancipation was pushed by the traditional Catholic English nobility (headed by the Duke of Norfolk) as well as the Irish. Two of the main characters in this book, the Duke of Wellington who ended up as Prime Minister at the end of the 1820's and Daniel O'Connell, an Irish lawyer, were instrumental in bringing about the 1829 law giving civil rights to Catholics. This book is excellent in bringing these two men and their fight for emancipation (in Wellington's case a fight he only took up reluctantly) to life.
July 8, 2022
An obscure topic except for us hard-core historians: the emancipation of Catholics from Great Britain’s laws that made them second class citizens. This was done during and after Henry VIII’s split from Rome since Roman Catholics were viewed as subversive and so were not to participate in public roles. Big problem since Ireland, virtually all Catholics, was ruled by Britain. Plus, there were still powerful Catholics within England itself that befriended the Protestant ruling class. However, for the lower classes, even a miniscule relaxation of these laws caused the most destructive riot in London history in 1780. Despite all this, on both sides of the issue, forward-looking people saw that something had to be done to allow fuller representation for a significant portion of Britain’s population.
Fraser’s book is a good introduction to this problem. Her writing continues to be great. However, written in Britain, there are terms and situations that American readers well not understand. This does not detract from the overall knowledge that can be gained. She starts with the Gordon riot in 1780 and traces the major people and events that led to Emancipation in 1829. A lot of agonizing decisions had to be made by the Protestant ruling class since this was in fact a revolutionary step, but a bloodless one. Nevertheless, it was recognized that it had to be done sooner or later. It may be argued it killed George IV. This is a little-known episode in British history that may need more written about it for us contemporary folk.
Fraser’s book is a good introduction to this problem. Her writing continues to be great. However, written in Britain, there are terms and situations that American readers well not understand. This does not detract from the overall knowledge that can be gained. She starts with the Gordon riot in 1780 and traces the major people and events that led to Emancipation in 1829. A lot of agonizing decisions had to be made by the Protestant ruling class since this was in fact a revolutionary step, but a bloodless one. Nevertheless, it was recognized that it had to be done sooner or later. It may be argued it killed George IV. This is a little-known episode in British history that may need more written about it for us contemporary folk.
July 23, 2023
In 1780, the Gordon Riots took place over the course of several days in London. The riots were led by Lord George Gordon, who was the head of the Protestant Association. The riots began in direct protest of the Papists Act of 1778, which was intended to stop the discrimination of Catholic citizens. This whole riot situation was very interesting for me to learn about, and was the best part of the book. I had already known about the lack of response from monarchs at the time, as well as the origin of the hatred between the two groups. I had never heard of this specific riot, so I learned a great deal from this book.
To be completely honest, the only reason I picked this book up to read is that I am trying to get through my unread things before I move so I can downsize. As an American living in America currently, I am so sick of any topic revolving around religion and discrimination, I cannot stand it. I would not have read this book right now solely based on that, but I am glad that I buckled down and read it. It was well researched and well written. I enjoy Antonia Fraser and her works, so I knew I would not be disappointed in the book, and I wasn't. If you want to know more about the Gordon Riots, or the division between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and the UK, this is a good book to help you along in that.
To be completely honest, the only reason I picked this book up to read is that I am trying to get through my unread things before I move so I can downsize. As an American living in America currently, I am so sick of any topic revolving around religion and discrimination, I cannot stand it. I would not have read this book right now solely based on that, but I am glad that I buckled down and read it. It was well researched and well written. I enjoy Antonia Fraser and her works, so I knew I would not be disappointed in the book, and I wasn't. If you want to know more about the Gordon Riots, or the division between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and the UK, this is a good book to help you along in that.
April 20, 2021
I gave it 3 stars. I personally feel it's 2 stars because of my own interest, but I know that Fraser put a lot of research into this.
And when I was wondering if I should make this a DNF (about 23% in), I knew I *wanted* to keep going even with my indifference.
Before 1778, Catholics in the UK were essentially non-citizens, to where even churches couldn't be built. A lot of what they had gone through since the 16th century is reminiscent of how Blacks were treated (and continue to be, even after the 1960s) in the U.S.
A lot of Catholics slipped under the law of "No Popery," and 1778 brought the start of the Catholic Emancipation.
Then Fraser jumps back and forth from then to almost 1830, when the Emancipation was passed, between England and Ireland.
And really, I found a lot of it to be insanely repetitive, though that's not Fraser's fault, it's history repeating itself (and/or concurrent events). It could have been presented better.
There is a LOT of detail, despite this being a short book (under 300 pages), and some of the detail is about unnecessary genealogy.
I really liked the information on Cardinal Consalvi, and it's unfortunate that his role was only in the beginning, and there wasn't much.
And when I was wondering if I should make this a DNF (about 23% in), I knew I *wanted* to keep going even with my indifference.
Before 1778, Catholics in the UK were essentially non-citizens, to where even churches couldn't be built. A lot of what they had gone through since the 16th century is reminiscent of how Blacks were treated (and continue to be, even after the 1960s) in the U.S.
A lot of Catholics slipped under the law of "No Popery," and 1778 brought the start of the Catholic Emancipation.
Then Fraser jumps back and forth from then to almost 1830, when the Emancipation was passed, between England and Ireland.
And really, I found a lot of it to be insanely repetitive, though that's not Fraser's fault, it's history repeating itself (and/or concurrent events). It could have been presented better.
There is a LOT of detail, despite this being a short book (under 300 pages), and some of the detail is about unnecessary genealogy.
I really liked the information on Cardinal Consalvi, and it's unfortunate that his role was only in the beginning, and there wasn't much.
December 18, 2025
The King and the Catholics is a masterful and compelling narrative that brings to life the turbulent struggle for Catholic emancipation in late 18th- and early 19th-century Britain and Ireland. Antonia Fraser skillfully combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling, transforming historical events like the Gordon Riots and the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 into gripping drama. Fraser’s character-driven approach illuminates the lives, ambitions, and conflicts of key figures from monarchs George III and George IV to the charismatic Irish lawyer Daniel O’Connell making complex political and religious history feel immediate and relevant.
What makes this book especially remarkable is Fraser’s ability to balance scholarly rigor with narrative accessibility. She contextualizes the fight for religious freedom within broader social, political, and cultural currents, showing how entrenched prejudice, factional interests, and the interplay of local and global events shaped the course of history. The King and the Catholics is not only an essential read for those interested in British and Irish history, but also a powerful reminder of the enduring consequences of intolerance and the transformative power of collective action.
Michael
What makes this book especially remarkable is Fraser’s ability to balance scholarly rigor with narrative accessibility. She contextualizes the fight for religious freedom within broader social, political, and cultural currents, showing how entrenched prejudice, factional interests, and the interplay of local and global events shaped the course of history. The King and the Catholics is not only an essential read for those interested in British and Irish history, but also a powerful reminder of the enduring consequences of intolerance and the transformative power of collective action.
Michael
December 14, 2018
Antonia Fraser covers the story of the machinations, maneuvers, and horse trading which led to Catholics being allowed to hold public office in Great Britain. She sees the French Revolution as a turning point, since the French, the eternal enemy, were, under Napoleon, persecuting the Pope and loyal Catholics, not supporting.
But although this gave room for movement towards Emancipation, the attitude of George IV slowed it. Corrupt, decadent and ill, belief that his coronation oath impelled him to oppose Emancipation was perhaps his only principle.
Fortunately, the Duke of Wellington, as PM, was able to manipulate the King into acquiescence.
In Ireland Daniel O’Connell United the Catholics, and some Protestant supporters, behind a program of non-violence. Wellington and O’Connell were unlikely allies, and in fact disliked each other, but each played a major role.
The story moves a bit slowly, but Fraser’s analysis and writing skills keep it moving.
But although this gave room for movement towards Emancipation, the attitude of George IV slowed it. Corrupt, decadent and ill, belief that his coronation oath impelled him to oppose Emancipation was perhaps his only principle.
Fortunately, the Duke of Wellington, as PM, was able to manipulate the King into acquiescence.
In Ireland Daniel O’Connell United the Catholics, and some Protestant supporters, behind a program of non-violence. Wellington and O’Connell were unlikely allies, and in fact disliked each other, but each played a major role.
The story moves a bit slowly, but Fraser’s analysis and writing skills keep it moving.
September 10, 2025
This book was my gateway to English history, and now Irish history as well. For me, part two and three of this book were most interesting. The stories of Daniel O’Connell, Robert Peel, and the Duke of Wellington had me fascinated with their complex personalities. The rivalries from George Canning vs Castlereagh to O’Connell vs Peel were absolutely fantastic to read.
Coming from a place that knew nothing about this topic — the nail-biting moment of King George IV unbearably reluctant to assent to Catholic Emancipation (even telling his doctor he was going to outright refuse) after his government rightly voting for it had me at the edge of my seat.
SPOILER: He did end up assenting (while throwing a bit of a hissy fit about it as well).
10/10 although it had a few dull moments that I wish the author left out or skipped more ahead. Now I will be looking for the next chapter of this storyline in English/Irish history!
Coming from a place that knew nothing about this topic — the nail-biting moment of King George IV unbearably reluctant to assent to Catholic Emancipation (even telling his doctor he was going to outright refuse) after his government rightly voting for it had me at the edge of my seat.
SPOILER: He did end up assenting (while throwing a bit of a hissy fit about it as well).
10/10 although it had a few dull moments that I wish the author left out or skipped more ahead. Now I will be looking for the next chapter of this storyline in English/Irish history!
July 18, 2018
As I have always been interested in European history, I was excited to read The King and Catholics. Antonia Fraser delivers an intriguing, insightful account of the tumultuous fight for Catholic Emancipation throughout England and Ireland. I had really no idea, that Catholics, were once so severely discriminated against in Europe. Catholics were denied several rights, including being denied jobs, one being, the right to sit in the Westminster Parliament. And the amount of violence that took place between the Protestants and the Catholics was shocking to read about . There were horrors, such as the Gordon Riots, where a near thousand people were killed, after the passing of the Popery Act of 1698. This act was meant to lessen discrimination against the Catholics. Because of this new passing, a group of Protestants, led by Lord George Gordon, decided to take matters into their own hands. They brutally rioted through the streets of London, ransacking homes and destroying chapels, in hopes to have the act repealed. Fraser does a wonderful job at taking the reader through the entire emancipation debacle, leading to the final passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act. I was very intrigued to learn about the prominent players in the conflict, which includes iconic figures like King George III, George IV, and the Irish lawyer Daniel O'Connell, and the Duke of Wellington. Highly recommend this book, to anyone, interested in the histories of England and Ireland.
*Won through Goodreads Giveaway*
*Won through Goodreads Giveaway*
August 8, 2018
I received a copy of this book via a GoodReads drawing, and am providing an honest review in return. I very much appreciate GR and the publisher's generosity in making advance copies available to the public! I want to begin by saying that my rating of this book should in no way be taken as a criticism of its content or style. Fraser is a very skilled writer, and it's clear that a lot of research went into this book. On writing quality and content, it gets 5 stars.
I just couldn't get into the subject matter. It sounded interesting, but the sheer number of names and titles and dates put me off. I found I had a hard time following the overall narrative. I think for specialists and readers who are well-acquainted with 18th-19th century British history, this book would be a good resource. For the more general history reader, I think it might be a bit daunting.
I just couldn't get into the subject matter. It sounded interesting, but the sheer number of names and titles and dates put me off. I found I had a hard time following the overall narrative. I think for specialists and readers who are well-acquainted with 18th-19th century British history, this book would be a good resource. For the more general history reader, I think it might be a bit daunting.
February 3, 2022
A good overview of the political struggle for Catholic Emancipation. Fraser presents a tale of two peoples – a small, upper class English recusant community, and the far larger group of Irish Catholics. There were working class Catholics in England, but as Fraser notes, they have not left the amount of documentation as their aristocratic co-religionists. A Catholic such as Lord Petre could play host to George III, but we aren’t shown how he, and other Catholic lords, fit in with their Protestant peers. Were they an integrated part of aristocratic society, or did they mainly socialize with their fellow Catholics? And what was their relationship with working class Catholics? For example, did Catholic landowners have primarily Catholic tenants?
In contrast, the situation in Ireland was clear. The overwhelming Catholic population was seen as a threat to the Protestant Ascendancy. Without Ireland, the book’s argument is that the then small (before Irish immigration) English Catholic population would have been granted political rights much sooner.
In contrast, the situation in Ireland was clear. The overwhelming Catholic population was seen as a threat to the Protestant Ascendancy. Without Ireland, the book’s argument is that the then small (before Irish immigration) English Catholic population would have been granted political rights much sooner.
April 18, 2023
It's... an extensive, detailed history, which I was unable to half follow in audiobook format.
There were some interesting details I caught, but much of the time I wasn't sure who or when we were discussing...
So, I recognise that it's a great history, but perhaps only for people more familiar with the whole thing. For me, nearly all names and terms were new, and I couldn't keep them straight.
For example, I still can't tell you the difference between a Whig and a Torry, though the book mentioned them half a million times.
It did give me an appreciation for our own history, because while England was having all these battles around Catholicism, the US had formed a government free of religion - the very first one.
There were some interesting details I caught, but much of the time I wasn't sure who or when we were discussing...
So, I recognise that it's a great history, but perhaps only for people more familiar with the whole thing. For me, nearly all names and terms were new, and I couldn't keep them straight.
For example, I still can't tell you the difference between a Whig and a Torry, though the book mentioned them half a million times.
It did give me an appreciation for our own history, because while England was having all these battles around Catholicism, the US had formed a government free of religion - the very first one.
January 10, 2021
Interesting to read from the other perspective. Very much just focuses on the English perspective, very little on the appalling conditions and lack of basic rights for everyday Irish people under the Penal laws and British rule.
One criticism of Fraser's writing in this book is that she assumes the reader's pre-existing intimate familiarity with the politicians and personages of the time and the British legal and governmental systems. Some quick explanations would go a long way to opening this up for readers beyond Britain. This book would be best as a supplement for those who are already reading about this period.
One criticism of Fraser's writing in this book is that she assumes the reader's pre-existing intimate familiarity with the politicians and personages of the time and the British legal and governmental systems. Some quick explanations would go a long way to opening this up for readers beyond Britain. This book would be best as a supplement for those who are already reading about this period.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews