James II: King in Exile

‘Impressively researched and stylishly written
the most perceptive and detailed biography we have, not only of James II, but of any of the Stuart monarchs.’ - The Daily Telegraph For eleven years, from his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690 until his death in 1701, James II lived in one of the most spectacular baroque palaces in Europe at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, holding court as a king in exile. This period is almost completely ignored by those writing about James and yet it was the period which set in train the rise in Jacobitism and allowed James to attempt to fashion the opportunity for his comeback as rightful king. In ‘James II’, John Callow reassesses James’s strategy for dealing with his downfall and exile and presents a portrait of a man who planned for himself great political rewards and popular acclaim. That these plans did not materialise was the inevitable result of the changing perception of monarchy in Britain but James left a lasting legacy in the form of Jacobitism on the one hand and a deep suspicion of Catholic monarchs on the other. This evocative and intriguing book will appeal to anyone interested in Stuart history and in court, military and cultural studies. AUTHOR: John Callow is a lecturer in history at Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. A specialist in the Stuart period, he is the author of The Making of King James II (Sutton, 2000). SELLING POINTS: . A new edition of John Callow’s critically- acclaimed 2005 book King in Exile . Still the only book to examine the years James II spent in exile in France following his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne . Increasing interest in Stuart history 16pp b/w images