Warrior Prince: Prince Rupert of the Rhine

by George Malcolm Thomson

Genres: Biography, History

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Bill38silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent biography of an extraordinary man whom many readers will know as a dashing, dare-devil, reckless and courageous cavalier in The Civil war in the 1640s. Indeed, Rupert had fought in his early twenties for the Royalist cause for four years less 46 days from August 1642 playing a part in fourteen pitched battles, numerous skirmishes, and the storming of seven fortified towns. Probably, he had been the most active soldier in the Civil War, feared and revered, inspiring loyalty and making bitter enemies in equal measure.

Although Rupert's exploits absorb a good chunk of the book, the author shows Rupert had many other talents. He was a privateer in the Caribbean, an admiral in the English fleet in the interesting war against the Dutch, a long standing member and inventor in the Royal Society, and a highly reputable metallurgist amongst other achievements.

Evidently Rupert was a strong character and a likeable one in many ways. Thomson sets out a most readable narrative and portrays a favourable assessment of his subject. He goes so far as to present in a two page Appendix on the hole in Rupert's periwig a defence of this being unrelated to symptoms of syphilis as alleged by Pepys and his contemporaries.

Overall, an interesting account of a charismatic character.