Unnatural Murder: Poison at the Court of James l

by Anne Somerset

A new interpretation by a direct descendant of a notorious murder based on original documents:a tale of love, bribery, poison, treachery and retribution in Jacobean England.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography, British Literature, 17th Century, Historical

524 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Anne Somerset (1955-) English art historian and author.

Somerset’s biography of England’s last Stuart monarch, entitled Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion was awarded the 2013 Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography.

Until his death in 2011, Anne Somerset was married to the artist Matthew Carr. Lady Anne Somerset is the daughter of the 11th Duke of Beaufort.

Reviews

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, if dry, look at an actual murder case from the 1600's in England. The Earl and Countess of Somerset are charged with the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury by means of poison and possibly witchcraft. While I did find the story interesting, the writing was fairly dry and and I kept getting sidetracked. Those of you who are sick of the Tudors and want something else that's historical, might find this one interesting. Four stars, somewhat.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Anne_S...

[RickyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a detailed and comprehensive historical account of what was called the greatest scandal of James I's reign, the murder of Thomas Overbury by the Earl and Countess of Somerset (aka Robert Carr and Frances Howard).
As noted in the author's note, "King James I's generosity with titles creates difficulties for historians of his reign, as the names of leading court figures alter with bewildering frequency." This meant that while reading in one chapter about Robert Cecil, for example, subsequent chapters referred to him by his awarded titles or positions - Principal Secretary of State, Baron Cecil of Essendon, Viscount Cranbourne, Earl of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England. For some of these characters it was exhausting trying to remember who held what position and what new titles had been inferred upon them.
That said, this confusion was handled well by the author and (with a few handwritten notes to guide me) I was able to follow this story pretty well. Again, the confusion I did encounter wasn't the fault of the author but the story itself. So many lies, so much evidence destroyed by the alleged perpetrators of this crime, so much backhandedness among the King's people, so many people resorting to deviousness to advance themselves.
By the end of the book I felt the right people had been held responsible for Thomas Overbury's death, although the judicial system was just as corrupt as the King's court.
Author Anne Somerset impressed me with the research she must have undertaken to complete this book and I found her to be neutral and fair in much of her representation of the people and the time.
I also liked that there was a comprehensive index that helped me follow a character's history when I needed to refresh my memory.
Even though the book was only 466 pages long, it took me 10 days to read it so I wouldn't recommend it as a quick read. There are simply too many details that can't be missed to fully understand the story. It wouldn't be a book you could skim through quickly.
But I would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to learn about a significant event in King James I's time that tells so much more than just that of a murder. It sheds light on the way of life in 17th Century, the role of courtiers in the King's court, the tenuous standing of women in 17th century society, the fragility of life at Court when it depends on the superficiality of a King's favours, and the inner workings of the justice system (not really much worse than what we have today in some respects).

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. What an extraordinary volume: Somerset's research is miles deep, her ability to convey character and personality is painterly, and her outlook compassionate and balanced. Nevertheless (as she would say while bringing to our attention evidence which counters that which she has just presented), she perhaps has the last trait to a fault.

"Unnatural Murder" concerns a major scandal at the court of King James VI and I. A courtier, clever but arrogant, named Sir Thomas Overbury is murdered (perhaps) in the Tower of London, where he has been dispatched by King James and his favorite, the Earl of Rochester, ostensibly for rejecting a diplomatic posting. Actually, however it's because Overbury objects to Rochester, formerly a close friend, intending to marry the recently divorced Countess of Essex, née Frances Howard. (The divorce was nearly as sensational as the murder: Frances achieved her separation on the grounds that the unhappy Earl of Essex admittedly failed to consummate the marriage.) There is no shortage of people--especially Frances--who would prefer that Overbury (who had a gift for alienating people) disappear permanently.

It is not impossible that Overbury died from disease or medical ineptitude, but, however he died, one thing is certain: Frances made overtures to several people to have him killed, and provided one of them with a vial of poison. Sir Thomas's death was assumed to be natural at first, but as rumor circulated that he had been poisoned, Rochester and his by-then wife Frances (who moved at the most exalted level of James' court) were charged with murder, (this is not a spoiler) tried, and convicted. The scandal touched every level of English society.

Anne Somerset throws us into the midst of King James' court beginning with Frances' wedding to her first husband, the Earl of Essex, and from then on we are on a sort of Stuart thrill ride which only comes to an end many hundreds of pages later. On the plus side: Somerset's knowledge of the period is profound, and she excels at pen portraits--she obviously knows these people intimately. She is also superb at connecting the scandal to other trends and influences of the time. The negative of this is that I think she forgets we do not know as much as she does. She refers to Sir Thomas's death, the trials, and the convictions as if we already knew of them, even as she is describing what led up to those events. (Which is one reason why this book, described by some of its blurbs as a whodunit, actually doesn't qualify as one. And, in the end, since we still can't be positive we know what happened, it would have been an enigmatic whodunit at best.)

Somerset is almost painfully even-handed in discussing the evidence involved in the case. No sooner does she lay out why So-and-So looks pretty likely to have done something suspicious, than there is a "nevertheless," and the facts against the most obvious assumptions are presented. This is particularly true in the discussions of the various trials involved, where evidence is missing, or may never have been written down in the first place, or was offered by a person who had reason to be lying, etc. Somerset's scholarship is meticulous, but it is mind-fraying. At the end of the book, she summarizes the evidence against the various parties, and it is pretty clear that we cannot be at all positive that we know who killed Sir Thomas, if indeed he was actually murdered. I have never before read a book which so frequently annoyed by its insistence on justice to all parties.

In spite of the foregoing paragraph, I utterly enjoyed this book (though I will admit to flagging during the account of the trials). The picture of the Stuart court, its politics, and its connection with the wider world is unparalleled. The way in which the scandal reflected and intensified discomfort with King James' court are thoroughly explored. The heartbreak, love, loyalty, betrayal, misery and joy of actual human beings is alive before us. Well worth reading.

P.S. The Earl of Northampton should be played by Alan Cumming, because Ian Richardson is sadly no longer with us. I had no idea--devious, cunning, unctuous, charming, repellent.

[Sarah ♥ ♥ ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I have to hear about “tarts and jellies” one more time, I’m going to poison MYSELF

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Unnatural Murder" is an incredibly detailed account of the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury and the trial that followed.

This book is so incredibly detailed that it has a 'forest through the trees' problem. The account does a fantastic job of painting a vivid picture of the court of King James I. At the same time I got so bogged down in the minutia that I would forget what I was reading about. It was also impossible to determine which facts were necessary for to understanding the case against Frances Sommerfolk and which weren't.

I finished reading and then went to the wiki page to get a summary of what I just read. All in all an absolutely fascinating piece of history that I enjoyed learning about, I just wish the book had felt like less of a chore to read.

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting non-fiction book about the murder of a courtier in James I's court, allegedly by one of James's male favorites and his wife. I really enjoyed all the details of court life, the politics of James's favorites. I also was interested in the workings of the justice system at that time (the accused was not allowed counsel or to see any evidence beforehand, and it was a great favor for the Earl of Somerset to be allowed pen and paper to take notes during his trial), although there were perhaps a few too many detailed descriptions of all the ins and outs of the trial.

[Danielle Reily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. I really enjoyed Anne Somerset's interpretation of a very controversial situation in history. All of the facts are shown in an unbiased way, stating all sides of the situation, and showing both contemporary sources as well as modern research. It's not only an interesting story, it is also a facsinating look into the politics, social standing, and judicial system of the time.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read. Thomas Overbury died in the the tower of London. at first his death was not treated with suspicion but 2 years later the king's favourite the Earl of Rochester and his wife Frances Howard stood trial for his murder. enjoyed this one. A second read of this one and it's still a wonderful read.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat tedious and unorganized in its approach. Would have been much better with a smooth "flow".

[Gabby M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might have been the first book I’ve really read about the court of King James I of England and Anne Somerset does excellent scenery-setting. James, descended from the line of Henry VIII’s sister Margaret after she married into Scottish royalty, became king on the death of Elizabeth I. He had a bit of a messy personal life after his ascension, marrying a woman and impregnating her several times before becoming openly much more interested in the company of men, generally maintaining a “favorite” young and attractive man with whom he was openly affectionate and tightly bonded. One such favorite was Robert Carr, who became the Earl of Somerset at the King’s wish. The Earl was lavishly gifted with power, land, and money, but wasn’t really smart enough to manage it all and enlisted the help of his friend, Sir Thomas Overbury. The duo worked well together until the Earl fell for Frances Howard, widely regarded as the most beautiful woman at court. Their romance had a major obstacle, though: Frances had been already married as a teenager, and though the marriage was miserable and remained unconsummated even years later, divorce was not available. James wasn’t jealous of his kept man’s new relationship, but Overbury was, and tried to keep the lovers apart, including by saying awful things about Frances, who was trying to get her marriage annulled (which was a whole other drama). A pretense was established for Overbury to be thrown into the Tower, where he died some months later. Frances won her suit and married Somerset and had a baby and everything looked rosy for a bit, until two circumstances converged to the Earl’s detriment: James took an interest in a new, younger man, and it was alleged that Overbury had died by poisoning. It did not take very much work to find out that Frances had sent poisoned things to Overbury in prison. Trials ensued. This is an actual history book, not pop history, though it’s filled with enough scandal to keep things quite lively. The scene-setting was the part I personally enjoyed the most, since I knew so little about this period of history and it turns out it was wild! The trials (both Frances’s nullity suit against her first husband, the Earl of Essex, and the several trials of participants in the poisoning conspiracy) are recounted at length, and while Somerset generally keeps things moving along, these portions do drag a little bit. Many documents are unavailable and Somerset is forced to rely on secondhand accounts, which leaves gaps in the narrative. Somerset’s analysis of the key players and how their flaws played into the outcomes that resulted is concise and insightful, I’ll definitely read more of her work but this is not one that I see myself coming back to.

[Laura Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! The characters are real people and perfectly described; and what a set of characters they are:

The gorgeous, lusty teenaged girl married to an obnoxious young man who is impotent.

The scheming, conniving family who will do anything to raise themselves further and gain more power.

The intellectual young man with the horrid personality...
Who pairs up with a gorgeous young man with no education or abilities. The two of them together, beauty and the beast, are a force to be reckoned with! They rise in power to the very throne itself... until one falls in love...

The book has basically four parts: the first sets up the players; the second sets up the reasons for the murder; the third is the trial and the fourth is the aftermath. Honestly I could not tell you which I enjoyed more or which shocked me more. During the trial I gasped out loud several times and read much of it with my jaw hanging open in shock. The aftermath had me even more shocked and all I could do was keep thinking “ what the heck is *wrong* with people”?!

An amazing book for history lovers, and anyone who is curious about odd things people sometimes do to get what they want.

[Nancy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The unbridled behavior at the Court of James I stunned this hardened old reader, but good gawd! If you want to feel better about our current situation, take a deep breath and read this. If the rampant adultery and uninhibited carnality doesn't revive your estimation of our time, then the horrific accounts of "medical treatment" will raise your spirits. I heartily recommend this book - it is a glory in terms of historical research. But the intensity of detail got me bogged down at times - do we really need each and every interpretation of one little act in the long, long saga? You can skim over those, but for those who are squeamish, avoid this book. What the "doctors" did to try and treat the murder victim (murder or medical care . . . we never quite know) can turn your stomach. That said, Sir Thomas of Overbury was universally disliked in his life, but his worth skyrocketed once he had perished. Really, this book is great fun - but you need perseverance and a strong stomach for gross detail.

[Anne Siddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Lucy Jago's novel, A Net for Small Fishes, which dealt with this subject from the point of view of one of the minor characters, Anne Turner, and wanted to learn more about the history. Anne Somerset's research is impressive and meticulous- possibly a little too meticulous, as there was such a lot of detail that it was sometimes difficult to see the wood for the trees. It was quite tricky to keep track of the huge cast of characters, and the author's habit of referring back to a character by a previous name didn't help.
However, the book gives a fascinating insight into the court of James I, which tends to be overlooked being sandwiched between the Tudors and the rather more colourful Charles I, and helps set the context for the English Civil War.

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history covers a notorious case of poisoning at the court of James I in the early 17th century. It's history, but the scandal could have been a tabloid story involving royal favorites (or rather, lovers), poison, rivalries, and impotency. The author does a thorough job of presenting the evidence in the case, and presenting it within the wider political context - because, of course, the accusation of poison didn't occur until nearly two years after the alleged murder, when the accused were already in danger of losing their favored status at court. Overall, this makes for an engaging read and a more sympathetic portrayal of the Earl and Countess of Somerset than I've encountered elsewhere.

[pauline high · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating true story of Frances Howard Countess of Somerset who was accused of poisoning Sir Thomas Overbury. This lady was married to the Earl of Essex son although she claimed he was impotent and the marriage was annulled. She then married Sir Thomas Carr a favourite of James I. What followed was a tale of complex intrigue and a scandalous sensational court case the likes of which had not been seen in England. Frances Howard proves to be a fascinating woman displayed as a villain and an evil unscrupulous woman. Although as the author says in the end she emerges "the most sympathetic figure in the story"

[Peter Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book about the famous court scandal in the reign of James I.It is however long and quite complex.Anne Somerset handles this material superbly and gives a thorough account of the background with excursions into Stuart medicine/quackery,justice,court procedure,court rivalries and government and detailed studies of the main characters involved(Robert Carr/Rochester,Francis Howard/Somerset etc,Villiers).So although it is very interesting it’s clearly a book for enthusiasts of Stuart times.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself is interesting and I appreciated the author’s analysis of her source material and the difficulties in producing an accurate account of what actually happened. However the book is extremely dry and probably about 100 pages longer than necessary. There are too many tangents and unnecessary details that detract from the core narrative. However, I needed something dry to read before bed (rather than a more engaging mystery) and this did the trick.

[Lezley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a long slow read, very detailed and well researched it focuses on the greatest scandal in the reign of James I. The Earl and Countess of Somerset are involved with the murder of Thomas Overbury. They had motive, the means of carrying out the murder and yet they escaped the normal punishment for such crimes.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.
As the Sunday Times quotes on the back of the book, yes, it is a "comprehensive account ... of the Overbury scandal", it gets lost in the details and fails on numerous occasions to clarify how this passage fits into the bigger picture. Also, the writing style doesn't make it easy to read. Instead, it's tedious and I was on the verge of abandoning it several times.

[Allie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. At some points I thought there was too much detail or felt repetitive. Tone was more on the dry side. I don’t think their personalities (especially the countess) were fully captured. It highlights their flaws (even before convictions), but didn’t go much beyond that.

[Jodi Ralston]

Though at least half the novel is on background issues and characters than on the trials and the murder, this work is worth reading.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting subject, but ultimately a bit too detailed. There was so much reproduced testimony that the actual happenings got buried in the minutia.

[Adrian Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often fascinating, occasionally a little too padded out.

[Red Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well- written, thorough microhistory.

[Sam Burborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read into a murder n King James 1 time, a bit slow sometimes, but overall good!

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meticulously researched, this work of non-fiction analyzes the true events and trial surrounding the seventeenth century death of Sir Thomas Overbury. A complex tale, it involves the dissolution of the Countess of Somerset's first marriage, the rise in favor of the Earl of Somerset, and the soured friendship between Overbury and Somerset.

The gist is this - in 1606, the younger daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, one of the highest ranking officials at the court of King James I of England was married to Robert Devereux, third Earl of Essex. However, the marriage was not a happy one, for the young Earl was unable to consummate the marriage. Meanwhile, his young bride, reportedly one of the most beautiful women at court, fell in love with Robert Carr, the King's current favorite. Robert Carr, beloved of the King (who had clear homosexual tendencies), was awarded privileges, land, and titles (eventually become the Earl of Somerset). Carr was also given significant responsibilities in running the kingdom and turned to his closest friend and adviser, Thomas Overbury, to assist him.

This was all well and good, until the unhappy Countess of Essex, Frances, decides to pursue an annulment of her marriage, with hopes of marrying Robert Carr upon dissolution of her first marriage. Overbury was strongly in opposition to this annulment and of Carr having any relationship with the lady. Eventually, Overbury (who apparently was deeply unpleasant) offends the king by refusing to serve as an ambassador, is imprisoned in the tower, and later dies. Several years later, Frances and her now husband, the Earl of Somerset, are tried for poisoning him, along with a whole host of accomplices. As I said, it's a complex tale.

There's a whole lot of he-said/she-said contradictions throughout this story. Additionally, the issue is complicated by the relative primitive investigation practices of the era, the tacit understanding to respect the king and avoid implicating his involvement in any way, and the complicated dynamics of court life, where friends became enemies and vice versa, and names are constantly changing as titles are bestowed and marriages take place. Furthermore, the author seems intent on going down every side street and alley possible in the storyline. For example, because several involved in the trial claim that life at court corrupted them, the author spends endless pages proving the corruption and excess of the court, referencing particular balls and masques, payments to courtiers, the cost of the finery of women at court, etc. Long, descriptive biographies of each servant, doctor, and the presiding legal authority are provided. I felt overloaded by information that was being heaped on an already very dense and complicated series of events. Additionally, there is an exceedingly long list of characters, but no character list is provided, which would have helped clarify the narrative for the reader.

Ultimately, four people were executed for Overbury's murder. Although the Earl and Countess of Somerset were both also found guilty, they were pardoned. While they lived freely, they lost their social status and never escaped the notoriety of being involved in the trial.

This trial has historical significance and certainly illustrates the complex dynamics of King James I's court. "The Overbury murder case was the greatest scandal of James I's reign and, arguably, the greatest court scandal to have occurred at any time in English history" (461). "The fact that such a wicked deed was committed by a man towards whom the King had not only displayed such marked affection, but had loaded with honours, riches and public office raised serious questions about James's judgment. [...] The case further blighted the reputation of the court as a whole by enhancing the impression that it was fundamentally rotten" (465).

[Maura Heaphy Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and well-researched chronicle of the circumstances surrounding a cause célèbre of the Court of King James I of England (and VI of Scotland): the death of Sir Thomas Overbury in 1613. Somerset does an excellent job of establishing the key players, and sketching in the "small fishes," several of whom were executed for their part in the conspiracy.

Someone who is more of a scholar of the period might find things to quibble with, in the conclusions that Somerset reaches, but (as an amateur), I thought she was fair and even handed in weighing up the evidence against Robert Carr and Frances Howard, the Earl and Countess of Somerset, and those who helped and advised them in their efforts to neutralise the threat posed by Carr's former friend Overbury. Dead-set against the marriage of the Earl and his Lady, Overbury knew too many secrets to make his continued survival comfortable for two lovebirds who were used to getting exactly what they wanted.

For a different perspective: A Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago, novel based on the events leading up to Overbury's death, and particularly the toxic friendship of Lady Frances Howard and Anne Turner.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book teetered, then slid and finally plummeted furiously to my I-did-not-finish list. I tried. I really did. But I just could not do it. Somerset never ran across a tangential aside that she didn't shove into the narrative anyway. She bounced all over the timeline having been propelled back and forth in time via these inconsequential and non-essential detours. She then needed to remind herself and the reader where she was in the plotlines. With judicious editing and pruning this might have been a fascinating overview of the Jacobean court and courtiers and the roles of rumor and prestige in the making and breaking and taking of reputations and lives. Instead it was a painful slog through random bits of scholarly research and incredibly annoying speculations and surmises. Awful.

[Lisa Strube-Kilgore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm still in the process of reading this one (I've been slowed down a lot by school), but most of you know I've been raving about it!

This is a fascinating account of a self-absorbed and impressively moronic daughter of a prominent household and her social-climbing, FEPO* boyfriend (then husband), and the murder of his best friend, whom nobody else liked a bit. It is a scandalously entertaining insight into how, with regards to power and justice, the more things change, the more they stay the same. This book is hilarious, it's disgusting, and it's damn interesting.

This is like the History Channel in literary form - Very vibrant and engaging. I can't wait to read her other books!

* TM Noelle - "For Entertainment Purposes Only"

[Siri Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unnatural Murder is a well-written, well-presented, engaging and extremely well-researched account of the Overbury affair and its legal aftermath, set within the context of the Jacobean court and the tumultuous relationships between Frances Howard, Rober Carr, Thomas Overbury and the Earl of Essex. The book details the circumstances leading up to the murder, the investigations and the trials in great detail, but it also offers the author's opinions on the events themselves, looking into the validity of the charges and trying to entangle not only the causes of Thomas Overbury's death, but also who was involved and how. An amazing read on a period and a case that should really receive more attention. Highly recommended.