Charles I: A Life of Religion, War and Treason [Paperback]

Christopher Hibbert (Author), David Starkey (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2007

When Charles Stuart was a young child, it seemed unlikely that he would survive, let alone become ruler of England and Scotland. Once shy and retiring, an awkward stutterer, he grew in stature and confidence under the guidance of the Duke of Buckingham; his marriage to Henrietta of Spain, originally planned to end the conflict between the two nations, became, after rocky beginnings, a true love match. Charles I is best remembered for having started the English Civil War in 1642 which led to his execution for treason, the end of the monarchy, and the establishment of a commonwealth until monarchy was restored in 1660. Hibbert's masterful biography re-creates the world of Charles I, his court, artistic patronage, and family life, while tracing the course of events that led to his execution for treason in 1649.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent account...balanced and perceptive in outlook...well-written and entertaining."--Economist

About the Author

Christopher Hibbert, "a pearl of biographers" (New Statesman), is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of Disraeli  (Palgrave Macmillan), The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, The English: A Social History, and Cavaliers and Roundheads. He lives in Oxfordshire, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 2nd edition (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140398378X
• ISBN-13: 978-1403983787
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good short biography of Charles I, June 26, 2010

By 

John A. La Boone III (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Charles I: A Life of Religion, War and Treason (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book a lot. The amount of good research that went into it is considerable. The book also has quite a number of good illustrations relating to the life of Charles and other notable people in the story and the times in which they lived. This is a good study of what happens when a person who does not have the personal strengths and special qualities needed for high position has high position thrust upon him. Though he was quite a fine gentleman and much more moral in his personal behavior than most other monarchs, he was not really king material. Unfortunately, he never suspected that of himself. Once placed in tumultuous times, Charles became doomed. Hibbert does an excellent job of showing how Charles' personality became his fate, or as the saying goes: "Character is destiny." This book is well worth the attention of anyone intersted in Charles I, the English Civil War, the Reformation, the 17th century, monarchy or the psychology of power.

12 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charles I: A Life of Religion, War and Treason, June 13, 2009

By 

Margarita G. Panchal (Colleyville, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charles I: A Life of Religion, War and Treason (Paperback)

Love Christopher Hibbert's writing style, made the book a very easy read, kept my interest the entire book, anxious to turn to the next page and get to the next chapter.