Product Description

A study of King James II and his reign, drawing on a wide array of primary sources from France, Italy and Ireland, as well as England. It explores James's relations with the state and society, focusing on the political, diplomatic and religious issues that shaped his reign.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #280442 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

Reassessing king James II and his reign
The English Monarchs series has brought the highest standards of historical scholarship to the wide audience. Leading historians scrutinize the lives of the kings and queens of England and explore the cumulative impact of the longest permanent governing institution in Europe.

James II (1633-1701) lacked the charisma of his father, Charles I, but shared his tendency to dismiss the views of others when they differed from his own. Failing to understand his subjects, James was also misunderstood by them. John Miller reassesses James II and argues that the king had many laudable attributes--he was brave, loyal, honorable, and hard-working, and he was at least as benevolent toward his people as his father had been. Yet James's conversion to Catholicism fueled the distrust of his Protestant subjects who placed the worst possible construction on his actions and statements. Although James came to see the securing of religious freedom for Catholics in the wider context of freedom for all religious minorities, his people naturally doubted the sincerity of his commitment to toleration.

The book explores James's relations with the state and society, focusing on the political, diplomatic, and religious issues that shaped his reign. Miller discusses the human failings, the gulf of understanding between the king and his subjects. He also considers the reasons for James's lack of interest in recovering his kingdom after his flight to France in 1688.

For me I discovered new angels and I have become more subtle in my judgement of him, but still I think he was the most silly of all British kings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed studying the reign of James II again and this book is simply excellent:the book is a great reading for anyone with an interest in the politics and culture of this very period of British history.