William and Mary (Very Interesting People) [Paperback]

Tony Claydon (Author), W. A. Speck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0199217548 | ISBN-13: 978-0199217540

Definitive, concise, and very interesting...From William Shakespeare to Winston Churchill, the Very Interesting People series provides authoritative bite-sized biographies of Britain's most fascinating historical figures - people whose influence and importance have stood the test of time. Each book in the series is based upon the biographical entry from the world-famous Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The Very Interesting People series includes the following titles: 1.William Shakespeare by Peter Holland 2. George Eliot by Rosemary Ashton 3. Charles Dickens by Michael Slater 4. Charles Darwin by Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne 5. Isaac Newton by Richard S.Westfall 6. Elizabeth I by Patrick Collinson 7. George III by John Cannon 8. Benjamin Disraeli by Jonathan Parry 9. Christopher Wren by Kerry Downes 10. John Ruskin by Robert Hewison 11. James Joyce by Bruce Stewart 12. John Milton by Gordon Campbell 13. Jane Austen by Marilyn Butler 14. Henry VIII by Eric Ives 15. Queen Victoria by K. D. Reynolds and H. C. G. Matthew 16. Winston Churchill by Paul Addison 17. Oliver Cromwell by John Morrill 18. Thomas Paine by Mark Philp 19. J. M. W. Turner by Luke Herrmann 20. William and Mary by Tony Claydon and W. A. Speck

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tony Claydon is Senior Lecturer in History at the School of History and Welsh History, University of Bangor W. A. Speck was Professor of History at the University of Leeds

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199217548
• ISBN-13: 978-0199217540
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful introduction to two overlooked monarchs, December 10, 2008

By 

Mark Klobas (Tempe, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: William and Mary (Very Interesting People) (Paperback)

William and Mary were unique in British history. Coming to the throne through dramatic circumstances, they reigned together until Mary's death in 1694 left William to govern alone for another eight years. Facing war and political instability, their reign was critical in the evolution of the British political system and the establishment of British power in Europe. Yet in spite of this the two remain surprisingly obscure, enjoying greater stature in America thanks to the eponymous college established during their reign than they do in Britain today.

This obscurity can seem especially surprising after reading Tony Claydon and W. A. Speck's joint biographies of the monarchs. Taken from their respective contributions to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Plus Index of Contributors (60 Volumes), the separate entries offer concise introductions to the monarchs lives. William's entry is the longer of the two, but Mary receives her due, and her not-inconsiderable role in governing during William's long absences due to war are rescued from the shadow of her husband's prominence. This book is a good starting point for anyone seeking to learn more about the lives of these unjustly overlooked figures.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pair of Neglected Monarchs, November 7, 2011

By 

Deborah (North Texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: William and Mary (Very Interesting People) (Paperback)

Having recently read Wouter Troost's William III the Stadholder-King: A Political Biography, I was interested in reading a more recent biography by a British historian. I'd read the biographies by Baxter and Robb back in the 1970s as well as Hamilton's biography of Mary II and the Van der Zee's joint biography of William and Mary. I was having difficulty finding a copy of Tony Claydon's 2002 biography of William III so I decided to read this little joint biography.

The biographies are well-written. I like Claydon's section best, but that's purely a matter of personal preference. I thought both biographers did an excellent job in the sections where they examine William's and Mary's legacies.

The section Private Man, Public Monarch I found particularly interesting, especially "William and Religion" and "Marriage and Sexuality". I suppose I find the latter interesting because I agree there is no clear evidence that William was or was not bisexual. I do take issue with Claydon's statement that "William detested all frivolity". He never missed The Hague's' kermis if he could help it, and kermis is all about frivolity. Still, I definitely agree with Claydon's overall view of William's character.

If anyone is looking for a brief look at William III and Mary II and their impact on British and European history, I would definitely recommend this joint biography.