James II and the First Modern Revolution: The End of Absolute Monarchy

by John van der Kiste

This in-depth biography explores the brief and turbulent reign of King James II and the growing opposition that led to the Glorious Revolution. James II succeeded his brother Charles II on the English throne in 1685, at a time when nothing could be taken for granted. A span of less that forty years had brought the execution of their father, Charles I, the proclamation of a republic, and the swift restoration of the monarchy. Though James inherited the makings of a stable reign, he was a deeply flawed character. Alternately pious and debauched, he was little liked by those who knew him. Within three years, James’s efforts to promote Catholicism in a nation that had predominantly embraced the Protestant faith had exhausted the patience of both the aristocracy and the church, who jointly appealed to his son-in-law, William, Prince of Orange, to intervene. Once James fled the kingdom, the ‘Glorious Revolution’ was quickly achieved. This book examines how the forces of Anglicanism and Jacobitism collided, how a monarch came to forfeit so much goodwill so quickly, and through his own folly aided the effortless victory of William and Mary (James’s own daughter), who at last brought a period of calm to a country that had endured so much.

Genres: History

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2021

About the author

John Van der Kiste, British author, was born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, on September 15, 1954, son of Wing Commander Guy Van der Kiste (1912–99). He was educated at Blundell's School, Tiverton, where he briefly formed a rock band Cobweb with fellow pupil Miles Tredinnick, later vocalist with new wave band London and subsequently playwright and scriptwriter, and read Librarianship at Ealing Technical College, where he edited the librarians’ student magazine.
He has worked for several years in public and academic libraries, but is best known as a writer. His first book, Frederick III, appeared in 1981, and since then he has published over twenty historical biographies, as well as books on local history, true crime, rock music, a novel and a play. He is also a contributor to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Guinness Rockopaedia, and has produced articles on historical, musical and art subjects in national and local journals, including Illustrated London News, Royalty Digest, European Royal History Journal, Best of British, BBC History Magazine, Record Collector, Antique Collector, This England, The Independent, and Gibbons Stamp Monthly. He has reviewed books and records for the press, written CD booklet notes, and between 1991 and 1996 edited the 70s rock fanzine Keep on Rockin.
In 2002 he was a consultant for the BBC TV documentary 'The King, the Kaiser and the Tsar', first screened in January 2003.
He married professional musician and teacher Kim Graham (née Geldard) in 2003 and lives in Devon.

Reviews

[Stacy Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the time period and the man that changed monarchy forever. Does not go too deep into any specific situation but covers a lot in just a few pages.