Written by the world’s greatest authority on 18th century warfare, this fast-paced, exciting narrative will completely revise popular opinion about “Bonnie Prince” Charlie, the Duke of Cumberland (“The Butcher”), and the other major players in the Scottish uprising of 1745. Christopher Duffy’s original research reveals evidence of a wider plot against the Hanoverians and more support for the risings in Scotland, than had been suspected before. Filled with maps and a guide to the key sites, it provides an eye-opening perspective.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
THE '45 is getting some extremely good reviews: 'Stripping away time-honoured misconceptions of the popular imagination and replacing them with hard factand original research, he presents a brilliant new perspective on the last attempt to seize the crowns of England and Scotland.' Tom Kyle, DAILY MAIL (11/4/03) '[Christopher Duffy] is a comfortingly traditional historian in that he sets out to use the best available information, including topography and meteorology, to explain something better than it has been explained before. He succeeds.' Robbie Hudson, SUNDAY TIMES (27/4/03) 'The '45 is the equivalent of Homer's Iliad or the tales of King Arthur. The narrative contains all the archetypes of great myth, but it actually happened... One of the great merits of Christopher Duffy's book is that he is alive to the mythical dimension. While subjecting the '45 to the disciplined scrutiny of a military historian, he is aware that the last Jacobite rising is not just another campaign... Christopher Duffy is the acclaimed and highly regarded doyen of eighteenth-century military history but he has excelled himself with this outstanding history.' Frank McLynn, THE HERALD - lead book review (12/4/03) 'Christopher Duffy's superb book provides the reality behind the romance. The detail in Duffy's bok is extraordinary. Equipped with his enthralling account and the many excellent maps that accompany it, the reader can reconstruct the Bonnie Prince's journey exactly. THE '45 emerges from the mists of the legends that have surrounded it and into the clear light of history. The Prince is seen not just as the doomed hero of romance but as a skilled and daring commander. Duffy's bookis military history at its very best and most enlightening.' LIVING HISTORY,May 2003 'Christopher Duffy's fresh account of The '45 is revolutionary in itself. Adopting an even-handed approach, he debunks a number of long-held myths. He has discovered that British support for the Jacobites was wider than previously supposed and has unearthed evidence of conspiracies within the British Army. In this important work the author, who formerly taught at Sandhurstand the Army Staff College, also assesses the campaign from a military pointof view.' SOLDIER, May 2003 'Christopher Duffy is the master of eighteenth-century European warfare, and in this well-written study he directs his gaze at the '45... A first-rate work, handsomely produced (including photographs) and attractively priced.' RUSI Jounal, August 2003 A two-part extract of THE '45 ran in THE SCOTSMAN on 29th and 31st March 03. So far there has been really good feed back from the other Scottish press and Christopher Duffy has beenpromoting in Scotland. THE '45 was Waterstone's Scottish Book of the Month for April and the launch event for THE '45 was held on Wednesday 9th April at Waterstones in Inverness. Christopher Duffy also did an event at Ottakars, Edinburgh, on Thursday 10th April, 6.30pm. Christopher Duffy has been interviewed for the EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS and will be attending the Edinburgh Festival in August. Review coverage is also expected in the following publications:THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPHHISTORY TODAYSCOTLAND ON SUNDAYEVENING TIMES (GLASGOW)THE DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISERTHE SUNDAY POST (DUNDEE)THE SCOTS MAGAZINESCOTTISH FIELDBORDER LIFE Radio coverage includes:BBC RADIO SCOTLAND interview onthe Gary Robertson ProgrammeRADIO BORDERS have run a competition for the book and given it a plugInterview with RADIO CLYDE
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
About the Author
Dr Christopher Duffy was a Senior Lecturer at Sandhurst. He is the author of numerous books and studies including THE ARMY OF FREDERICK THE GREAT and SIEGE WARFARE
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A British civil war,
By
This review is from: The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Untold Story of the Jacobite Rising (Hardcover)
Christopher Duffy has written a thorough and readable history of the Jacobite rising of 1745-6. He explains the historical context for the rebellion and in great detail describes the events and the battles which took place. In doing so he exposes many of the myths which have developed over time about Bonnie Prince Charlie, his army and his cause. Duffy shows that the Jacobites were made up of people from all over the British Isles not just Highlanders; that this was not straightforwardly a fight between England and Scotland, for many Scots supported the Hanoverians and many English supported the Stuarts. The rebellion was thus a British civil war, a conflict between dynasties.One of the best aspects of the book is the analysis of how nearly the Jacobites succeeded. Duffy shows that the rising was not some hopelessly romantic, doomed from the start attempt to restore a lost cause. The Jacobites reached as far as Derby in the English Midlands and if they had pressed on to London, as Prince Charles wanted, they might have won. Duffy shows that there was little in their way, and that the outcome although far from certain, offered a realistic chance of success. The decision to retreat from Derby was therefore truly momentous for from that moment the rising was bound to fail eventually. In his account it is clear where Duffy's sympathies lie, though he never ceases to be objective. It is obvious that he considers the Jacobite cause, of restoring the Stuarts, to be essentially just and that the George II, the Elector of Hanover was the real usurper. It is certainly true that "young pretender" had a better hereditary claim to the throne than the man who was sitting on it. In general Bonnie Prince Charlie comes out well from Duffy's account. He is shown to be an able military leader who inspired his forces and very nearly won a kingdom. Duffy's book is well illustrated and has many useful maps. There are a number of typographical errors, but nothing that gets in the way of understanding the text. This is probably the best account of the '45 available, written by a military historian who really understands the period.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most detailed history of the Jacobite war extant,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Untold Story of the Jacobite Rising (Hardcover)
This book, written by one of the premier British military historians, presents the most detailed history of the Jacobite war of 1745-46 in print. It's extremely detailed, with some interesting insights into the effects of terrain - Scotland in the mid 18th century being a very different place, with far fewer roads and far fewer people than the modern UK.If you are looking for a history of the general period, or of the Highland Clearances, this book is not it. But if you are a hard-core military history student, wanting a really fine-grained history of the conflict, Duffy's work will answer your needs.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and all-encompassing history of the last Jacobite Uprising,
By
This review is from: The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Untold Story of the Jacobite Rising (Paperback)
Most books dealing with the 1745-46 rebellion maintain a steady focus on Prince Charles Edward Stuart while others deal strictly with Culloden, the penultimate engagement of that campaign. Christopher Duffy's book is EVENT focussed rather than personality driven and as such places the famed Bonnie Prince in context of the events that swirled around his ill-fated attempt to recapture the British throne for the House of Stuart. Eschewing romanticism, the reader is treated to a highly datailed, map laden treasure trove of knowledge conveyed by this master of 18th century warfare. Weapons and tactics, the weather and landscape, civilians,the common soldiers on both sides, Generals Cope, Wade, Murray, Hawley, Lord Loudon, and, of course, the Duke of Cumberland are all pictured amidst the rise and fall of the fortunes of war. The comprehensive treatment yields a full picture of the rebellions impact across the landscape of Scotland in areas where the Stuart Prince never went. For example, we learn of Jacobites in Orkney, naval engagements that were key in depriving the Jacobite forces of much needed supplies and gold, and even read that the remote islands of St. Kilda were briefly and non-violently touched by what transpired. The bibliograpy and accompanying footnotes could prove invaluable to those wishing to learn more about the 1745-46 campaign.The aborted Jacobite march on London is fully covered and I think the author correctly concludes that the decision to turn back at Derby doomed the Stuart cause and represented a major loss of momentum that could never be regained, no matter what future victories loomed. If there is one criticism of this book, I think the placement of the account of the Battle of Prestonpans at the start of the work detracted from the chronological flow of events since that happened after the gathering at Glenfinnan. Placing it early in the narrative works as a literary device to draw the reader in but one feels its abscence in the ensuring text. That is a miniscule fault though compared to all that this book achieves and all I learned from it. Thank you Christopher Duffy.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
