James II (Penguin Monarchs) (Penguin Monarchs)

'James was a king tragically trapped by principle. Yet was it wise to attempt to change the national religion?'

Theshort reign of James II is generally seen as one of the mostcatastrophic in British history, ending in his exile after heunsuccessfully tried to convert England to Catholicism, a crisis thatwould haunt the monarchy for generations. Ultimately, David Womersley'sbiography shows, James was a man whose blindness to subtlety andpolitical reality brought about his ruinous downfall.

Reviews

The little volumes of the 'Penguin Monarchs' series will be a matchless collection when completed. Already they provide a first-rate history of England, its monarchy and the effects of power on character. I've relished Anne Curry on Henry V, Stephen Alford on Edward V, David Womersley on James II and Roger Knight's William IV - but really there is not a dud among them.