Charles I: A political life (Profiles in Power) [Hardcover]

Richard Cust (Author)

Book Description

Series: Profiles in Power | Publication Date: July 28, 2005

"This is an outstanding piece of work: not only the best life of the king yet produced, but also the most subtle and balanced synthesis of current research on the politics and religion of the reign currently in print." - BBC History Magazine "Cust comes as close to producing a definitive account of the nature of Charles I's kingship as anyone is likely to do for a long time...We should be grateful ...for this brilliantly conceived and deeply pondered work. It becomes a crucial point of reference, always trustworthy and enlightening" - History Today Charles I was a complex man whose career intersected with some of the most dramatic events in English history. He played a central role in provoking the English Civil War, and his execution led to the only republican government Britain has ever known. Historians have struggled to get him into perspective, veering between outright condemnation and measured sympathy. This biography sets out to challenge recent assessments of Charles as someone unfit to be king', and emphasises his strengths as a party leader and conviction politician.These characteristics, along with his misjudgement and mishandling of crises, played a critical role in the causes of the English Civil War. Ultimately pushing Charles' enemies into a posiiton where they had little choice but to execute him. It is an accessible narrative of the high politics of Charles's reign as a whole, exploring developments in Scotland and Ireland as well as England. It connects this politics with religious conflict, court culture, Renaissance ideas of monarchy and the emergence of a public sphere' of news and political debate, while also offering a reassessment of topics such as the origins of the Personal Rule, the political role of Queen Henrietta Maria and Charles's performance as a military commander.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Richard Cust's new biography (is) by far the best to date... This is an outstanding piece of work: not only the best life of the king yet produced, but also the most subtle and balanced synthesis of current research on the politics and religion of the reign currently in print.' "BBC History" 'Cust comes as close to producing a definitive account of the nature of Charles I's kingship as anyone is likely to do for a long time.' 'We should be grateful...for this brilliantly conceived and deeply pondered work. It becomes a crucial point of reference, always trustworthy and enlightening.' "Anthony Fletcher, History Today, May 2006" '...the most impressive aspect of the book is the way that interwoven in the narrative is a consistent, novel and coherent view of Charles the politician. What is novel about Dr. Cust's view is that he is not content to put Charles's political failures down simply, as many recent historians have done, to the king's lack of political ability. His explanations are more subtle and, thus, more convincing.' "Professor Barry Coward, Birkbeck College, London; author of The Stuart Age: England1603-1714 (Longman, 2003)"

From the Back Cover

...the most impressive aspect of the book is the way that interwoven in the narrative is a consistent, novel and coherent view of Charles the politician. What is novel about Dr. Cust’s view is that he is not content to put Charles’s political failures down simply, as many recent historians have done, to the king’s lack of political ability. His explanations are more subtle and, thus, more convincing.

Professor Barry Coward, Birkbeck College, London; author of The Stuart Age: England1603-1714 (Longman, 2003)

 

Charles I was a complex man whose career intersected with some of the most dramatic events in English history. He played a central role in provoking the English Civil War, and his execution led to the only republican government Britain has ever known. Historians have struggled to get him into perspective, veering between outright condemnation and measured sympathy.

 

Richard Cust shows that Charles I was not ‘unfit to be a king’, emphasising his strengths as a party leader and conviction politician, but concludes that, none the less, his prejudices and attitudes, and his mishandling of political crises did much to bring about a civil war in Britain. He argues that ultimately, after the war, Charles pushed his enemies into a position where they had little choice but to execute him.

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Longman (July 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582070341
• ISBN-13: 978-0582070349
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,658,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced, covers his virtues and why they were wrong for him, November 4, 2006

By 

Cary "Cary" (Glenview, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Charles I: A political life (Profiles in Power) (Hardcover)

A readable and balanced portrayal of Charles, showing his virtues as well as his faults. Charles was the wrong man for his circumstances, but not totally evil or inept at everything. He learned the wrong lessons from his life experiences, and in the end his private virtues such as loyalty to his servants meant he could not compromise when it was necessary. This biography gives good insight into Charles and what went wrong.