Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
Qty:1
  • List Price: $26.99
  • Save: $8.31 (31%)
FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Ungrateful Daughters: The... has been added to your Cart
Want it Thursday, April 7? Order within and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Ship to:
Select a shipping address:
To see addresses, please
or
Please enter a valid US zip code.
or
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.
Used: Good | Details
Sold by California_Reads
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Shows signs of wear. Ships direct from Amazon.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon .

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 2 images

Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown Paperback – February 20, 2004

by
Maureen Waller (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Maureen Waller Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
Maureen Waller (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars 24 customer reviews
See all 9 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$21.39
— —
Hardcover
"Please retry"
—
$5.00 $0.99
Paperback
"Please retry"
$18.68
$5.99 $0.01
Best Books of the Month
See the Best Books of the Month
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
$18.68 FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books. In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Frequently Bought Together

  • Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown
  • +
  • Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History
Total price: $29.34
Buy the selected items together
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Product Details

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (February 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312307128
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312307127
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,628,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsHow sharper than a serpent's tooth it is.
By frumiousb VINE VOICE on December 13, 2003
Format: Hardcover
Ungrateful Daughters treats the last days of the house of Stuart as seen through the perspectives of the major characters: James II, Mary of Modena, Mary II, William of Orange, and Queen Anne. It begins essentially with the restoration and ends with the handover of power to the Hanovers.

The material is absorbing and the book was seemingly quite well-researched. However, for me, much of the pleasure was spoiled by Waller's organisation and tone. The narrative is not linear, but shifts with the perspectives of the different players. I found the effect jarring and occasionally confusing. I also heard more than I wanted of Waller's opinions about the people involved (particularly Queen Anne).

I am often willing to forgive a history writer some harsh asides, but I was not willing to forgive Waller. I found her judgements heavy-handed and they made me suspicious of how (and from what perspective) she was telling the story. Too bad-- because it is a really great story.

This should not discourage others from reading the book-- it is still a reasonable use of time for the story itself. I am planning to keep it in my collection-- at least until a better author writes a new approach to the material.
1 Comment 19 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsKing Lear in real life.
By Amazon Customer on August 3, 2004
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
"Ungrateful Daughters" demonstrates (yet again) the absurdity of the warming pan plot and the legitimacy of James II's son. But the enjoyment in reading about the events of the time is diminished by a confusing narrative which jumps back and forth as well as the persistent theme of blaming everything on Anne.

Both Anne and her sister were raised as Children of State. Their upbringing was directed by Charles II and his ministers with the goal in mind of creating staunch Protestant heirs to the throne. From their earliest childhood they were brought up to disdain the religion of their father and stepmother and with a firm belief in popish plots. That in their adult years, they fulfilled this role shows them to be grateful Daughters of State more than ungrateful daughters to James.

This book is worth reading for it's strong narrative of events surrounding the birth of James' son and its recounting of the events in the revolution itself. However the reader must keep and open mind about some of the conclusions. "Ungrateful Daughters" chronicles the events and aftermath of the Glorious Revolution. The bloodless coup that removed James II from the English throne and installed his Daughter Mary and her husband William as joint monarchs. Maureen Waller, the author, writes not of high politics but rather tells the story of a family split by politics, religion, and perhaps even simple jealousy. While the title references both daughters, it is the younger Anne, who Ms Waller sees that the prime villain of the piece.

Maureen Waller's narrative of events is divided into three sections. In the first third of the book, she provides biographies of each of the main participants in the family drama.Read more ›
1 Comment 17 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsCuriously overlooked period in British history
By isala on October 15, 2005
Format: Hardcover
We have all heard that the last invasion of England was in 1066. Well, we are wrong. The last *succesful* invasion of England was in 1688 (the *last* invasion of England was 1745, and of Great Britain 1798). Yes, we know that James II was deposed by the Prince of Orange, but we are not really taught the details in schools. Perhaps it is to embarrassing that 15000 Dutch soldiers occupied London and the south, that the lawful King was usurped by his own daughters and nephew, and that his younger daughter led the smear campaign against their father and step-mother.
It is not a pretty story, but an interesting and important one that Ms. Waller tells us. It is as much a story about religious intolerance as about petty, vindictive, ruthless, scheming, and stubborn characters.
What strikes me is how volatile the UK was because of religion, still over onehundred years after Henry VIII went protestant, and what enormous power individuals could wield, even private citizens like Lady Marlborough.
If it is one thing I have to say against this book is that I think the author concentrates to much on the gossip and petty rivalries between the protagonists, and does not totally succedd in explaining why they are important.
Comment 13 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsAn enjoyable history
By C. Collins on March 24, 2005
Format: Hardcover
I found this book to be excellent and fun to read, primarily because the author's frame of reference is family dynamics and personality painted against the larger backdrop of historic events.

The story is primarily about the Glorious Revolution in which the Catholic James II lost the throne of England to his daughter and son-in-law; Mary and William of Orange.

Whereas Charles II had as many political talents as Bill Clinton, his dull brother, James II, unfortunately lacked insight into interpersonal relationships, diplomacy at the personal and national level, and intelligence. He embraced Catholicism at a time that only 3% of the English population would admit to being Catholic and when Louis XIV was enacting deadly policies against the Protestants in his country. His daughters had been reared Protestant and the entire power infrastructure of England was Protestant.

Mary was certainly a sympathetic figure as portrayed here. She was 6 feet tall and appeared to be a big-boned girl. She towered over the other women in the court. She towered over her husband, William. Her motivations for taking the crown of England from her father were greatly influenced by her Protestant religion and her devotion to her husband who served as the few checks on the military agression of the absolute dictator, Louis XIV. Her death and funeral are touching and William's devotion to her was interesting considering his tendency to be attracted to handsome Dutch blond army officers.

William is portrayed as calculating, strategic and cripled. His homosexuality is briefly discussed in hypothetical terms. Other historians have indicated that the weight of evidence is that he was indeed homosexual.Read more ›
1 Comment 8 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGreat snapshot of the period

Very interesting and informative. Great snapshot of the period.

Published 15 months ago by Floyd A Thompson
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great story

Published 15 months ago by Alan R Schlesinger
5.0 out of 5 stars1688 and all that

The title refers to Mary and Anne, the daughters of James II by his first marriage to Anne Hyde. When James, then still Duke of York, and his wife converted to Roman Catholicism... Read more

Published on January 15, 2014 by Ralph Blumenau
2.0 out of 5 starsWell Meant, But Confuses Opinion with Fact

First, I must agree with the criticisms made by others of repetition and bias against Anne. Another problem I have with this book is that sometimes the author gives her opinion as... Read more

Published on December 11, 2011 by Deborah
2.0 out of 5 starsUngrateful Daughters

Although I am interested in the history of the English monarch, I found this book to be very dry and a bit boring. it is divided into multiple parts. Read more

Published on August 29, 2011 by Mary E. Young
4.0 out of 5 starsAn Overview

Author Maureen Waller has delivered an overview of the Glorious Revolution. It is not for those who know the story, but good for someone like me, more steeped in Tudor than Stuart... Read more

Published on September 1, 2010 by Loves the View
2.0 out of 5 starsThe title of this book is misleading

This book should have been called Ungrateful Daughter since the entire book is about blaming Anne and making excuses for Mary. There were many things about this book that irked me. Read more

Published on December 21, 2008 by Elizabeth Crowley
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat History/Great Biographical Information

Ungrateful Daughters is a beautifully written book that I highly recommend to any English history nut. Read more

Published on January 19, 2008 by Melissa
5.0 out of 5 starsCompelling and informative

The Stuarts were more than a series of Scots-English monarchs, they were a contentious family filled with ambitious, egotistical, often ignoble figures who were not above slipping... Read more

Published on June 4, 2007 by Michael K. Smith
1.0 out of 5 starsObvious writer bias ruins interesting subject

Better books on the time period can be found. The writer distorts historical fact to fit her own agenda.

Published on April 17, 2006 by Keri

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown
Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more
This item: Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.