Product Description

The '45 Rising has been romanticised over the centuries in many books and films, and still arouses strong emotions in Scotland, but this is the first comprehensive history ever. It is based on original research in all available archives, including Swedish, French and German records. These make nonsense of the many popular histories based on self-serving accounts written by a few of the key participants. But it is no dry academic analysis. Christopher Duffy, the world's greatest authority on 18th century warfare, writes a vivid narrative that overturns many accepted 'facts' about The '45. His text is supported by numerous maps and a comprehensive guide to the key sites that can be visited today. This is a major work that addresses a crucial episode in British history: the last time that a British monarch stood a serious chance of being unseated by a dynastic rival at the head of an army.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #248983 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-31
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 640 pages

Review
THE '45 is getting some extremely good reviews: 'Stripping away time-honoured misconceptions of the popular imagination and replacing them with hard factand original research, he presents a brilliant new perspective on the last attempt to seize the crowns of England and Scotland.' Tom Kyle, DAILY MAIL (11/4/03) '[Christopher Duffy] is a comfortingly traditional historian in that he sets out to use the best available information, including topography and meteorology, to explain something better than it has been explained before. He succeeds.' Robbie Hudson, SUNDAY TIMES (27/4/03) 'The '45 is the equivalent of Homer's Iliad or the tales of King Arthur. The narrative contains all the archetypes of great myth, but it actually happened... One of the great merits of Christopher Duffy's book is that he is alive to the mythical dimension. While subjecting the '45 to the disciplined scrutiny of a military historian, he is aware that the last Jacobite rising is not just another campaign... Christopher Duffy is the acclaimed and highly regarded doyen of eighteenth-century military history but he has excelled himself with this outstanding history.' Frank McLynn, THE HERALD - lead book review (12/4/03) 'Christopher Duffy's superb book provides the reality behind the romance. The detail in Duffy's bok is extraordinary. Equipped with his enthralling account and the many excellent maps that accompany it, the reader can reconstruct the Bonnie Prince's journey exactly. THE '45 emerges from the mists of the legends that have surrounded it and into the clear light of history. The Prince is seen not just as the doomed hero of romance but as a skilled and daring commander. Duffy's bookis military history at its very best and most enlightening.' LIVING HISTORY,May 2003 'Christopher Duffy's fresh account of The '45 is revolutionary in itself. Adopting an even-handed approach, he debunks a number of long-held myths. He has discovered that British support for the Jacobites was wider than previously supposed and has unearthed evidence of conspiracies within the British Army. In this important work the author, who formerly taught at Sandhurstand the Army Staff College, also assesses the campaign from a military pointof view.' SOLDIER, May 2003 'Christopher Duffy is the master of eighteenth-century European warfare, and in this well-written study he directs his gaze at the '45... A first-rate work, handsomely produced (including photographs) and attractively priced.' RUSI Jounal, August 2003 A two-part extract of THE '45 ran in THE SCOTSMAN on 29th and 31st March 03. So far there has been really good feed back from the other Scottish press and Christopher Duffy has beenpromoting in Scotland. THE '45 was Waterstone's Scottish Book of the Month for April and the launch event for THE '45 was held on Wednesday 9th April at Waterstones in Inverness. Christopher Duffy also did an event at Ottakars, Edinburgh, on Thursday 10th April, 6.30pm. Christopher Duffy has been interviewed for the EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS and will be attending the Edinburgh Festival in August. Review coverage is also expected in the following publications:THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPHHISTORY TODAYSCOTLAND ON SUNDAYEVENING TIMES (GLASGOW)THE DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISERTHE SUNDAY POST (DUNDEE)THE SCOTS MAGAZINESCOTTISH FIELDBORDER LIFE Radio coverage includes:BBC RADIO SCOTLAND interview onthe Gary Robertson ProgrammeRADIO BORDERS have run a competition for the book and given it a plugInterview with RADIO CLYDE

About the Author
Dr Christopher Duffy was a Senior Lecturer at Sandhurst. He is the author of numerous books and studies including THE ARMY OF FREDERICK THE GREAT and SIEGE WARFARE.

Customer Reviews

The Forty Five
This is the best single volume of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. This is no small claim to make because accounts of this rebellion have been in print since its end, in 1746. Although this takes the usual format, ie, basically chronological, it has a great many virtues.

Firstly, although the author (one of the leading living authorities on eighteenth century warfare)claims that all those writing about the '45 end up taking one side or the other, it seems very difficult to detect any bias - most writers on the '45 sympathise heavily with the rebels. This work is as impartial as can be. Bias may be natural, but it injects a dose of propaganda into history.

Duffy uses the well known sources, the Cumberland Papers, memoirs of the rebels and so forth, as all historinas must, but he also explores other source material hitherto unused. These include accounts in European archives by ambassadors in England at the time of the rebellion.He also uses the weather diaries of an English squire, and of these, more anon.

The background to the rebellion, both political and military, are explored in early chapters, which help the reader appreciate the difficulties facing bothe the government and the rebels.

Duffy's analysis of the controversies surroundingt he rebellion is both fresh and sound. He discusses the forces available to the government in December 1745 when the rebels were about to march to London, in a way that has not been done hitheto. His explanation as to why the rebels had to fighta t Culloden and the decisions of their leaders, are also laid bare. As with Stuart Reid in '1745', Lord George Murray's military faults are exposed.

Duffy also explores the vital importance of the weather. The campaign was fought from September 1745 to April 1746, much of it in the north of England and Scotland. Bad weather prevented Wade's army from coming to grips with the rebels, played havoc with ships either trying to aid or hinder each side, and played a part at Culloden. Campaigns at this time were rarely fought outside summer/Spring.

There are a few points one could quibble with, but they are essentially minor. Overall, an excellent book for both scholar and general reader (it is footnoted and there is a good bibliography)

Excellent
Another review is superfluous given the excellent job already done, as always, by Dr.O. However, an extra thought - self-serving is surely expected of key participants, even desirable. Whether deliberate, for political ends or justification, or simply the result of being too close, seeing the event from their own role in it, and responding emotionally rather than disinterestedly, these are invaluable. Witnesses make untrustworthy narrators but they do also reveal motives and personality. For social historians, these accounts shed light on personal thinking and beliefs about what occurred. They allow events to be viewed from both sides, sometimes filtered through several minds. Not to be sneezed at.

Facts are what we make of them. At this distance from the event, we can afford to be detached. Duffy's stance is refreshing, cool-headed and remarkably clear. His pacey narrative style is a treat which casual readers will enjoy while historians relish the additional, original archive research which effectively fleshes out old bones with new meat. Tourists will appreciate the various maps and guide to key sites. What else, indeed, has been left to do? Unless new papers turn up, of course.

Top Class
I think the previous reviewers have just about said it all.This is the most informative and well researched book I have read about this period.I would advise anyone who is interested in the 1745 uprising to buy this book as it clears up a lot of miconceptions which have built up over 250 years of propaganda from the opposing camps.Suffice to say it has changed my views of the uprising and the author should be commended for this as a great slice of military and social history.