The Jacobites

by Frank McLynn

‘A very clear account of this famous episode in history.’ The Sunday Times The Jacobite uprising – a period of turmoil following the removal of James II, in favour of his daughter, Mary II and her husband William III. The following century would witness political plots, military conflict, acts of espionage and religious scheming to secure the throne of the United Kingdom for both James and his son, ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’. The Jacobite cause drew in allies and enemies, domestic and foreign. James, while exiled in both France and Italy, endures a life of boredom, repeated illness and loneliness as Charles breaks off contact. Funding, both Papal and French, is used up as efforts to return to rule culminate in defeat at Culloden. Frank McLynn has thoroughly researched this incredible period of history moving forward into the Hanoverian dynasty with careful assessment of all that Jacobitism stood for. Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books. Praise for Frank ‘Frank McLynn’s achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the ’45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.’ Brian Morton, TES ‘A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...’ Diarmaid O’Muirithe, Irish Independent ‘A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.’ Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review ‘Valuable in covering the wide sweep of Scotland, England, Ireland and the Continent, and bringing together many diverse strands into a coherent whole. Its wide range and taut approach make it very useful.’ Rennie McOwan, The Tablet ‘Packed with fascinating detail.’ Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator ‘Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.’ Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday ‘Most entertaining.’ Richard West ‘Important, timely and balanced.’ Soldier

Genres: History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 1985

About the author

Frank McLynn is an English author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley.

McLynn was educated at Wadham College, Oxford and the University of London. He was Alistair Horne Research Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford (1987–88) and was visiting professor in the Department of Literature at the University of Strathclyde (1996–2001) and professorial fellow at Goldsmiths College London (2000 - 2002) before becoming a full-time writer.

Reviews

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid introduction to the subject. Well written and not including so much detail as to get bogged down in tedious who said what to who things. If you are interested in that I guess you should get a more detailed book. My only quibble is that the writer takes for granted a degree of knowledge about the period and people. He talks about Walpole and Richelieu without explaining who they are (OK they are well known) and does the same for minor characters like Elcho and Lovat. Overall a good read and interesting subject.

[Mrs S Common · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed insight of a forgotten events

New generation historians will find this interesting, with a what might have been if certain events had a different outcome.

[Adam Meek · Rating 3 out of 5]

McLynn gives a good overview of the Jacobite movement and its motivations. There is biographical material on all of the Pretenders. This book is a good introduction to the Jacobites, and answered all of my questions on the subject. I found it accessible and informative.

[Sean Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book possessed some good information, but was rather spotty; the volume could easily have been 4 or 5 times what this one held.
If one wants a comprehensive history of the Jacobites, a different book will be required.