Charles the Second

This is the first scholarly biography of the king who is remembered by the English with more popular affection than almost any other. Covering his entire life, it takes in his colourful years as a prince and as an exiled monarch during the Civil War and Interregnum, in addition to his later career as effective ruler of three kingdoms. A unique feature of Ronald Hutton's authoritative study is the attention given to Charles's reign over Scotland and Ireland, as well as England, giving us the first united history of the British Isles in this period.

The work is based throughout on all the known surviving sources, some of which have never been used before. This lively and comprehensive biography fills an important gap in Stuart historiography, and will be indispensable to anyone interested in the period.

Readership: Students and scholars of the Stuart period, general readers interested in biography, monarchy, and seventeenth-century history.

Ronald Hutton, Professor of History, University of Bristol

"'This is a splendid book. If only more historians wrote as vigorously, vividly and imaginatively as Ronald Hutton, specialised history might recover some of its appeal to a wider public. Hutton's skilful use of well-selected illustrative detail shows a complete mastery of the sources...He is disarmingly unengaged in current academic-ideological squabbles. His conclusions are tentative, undogmatic, open-minded, but clearly stated. A special virtue is the attention which his book pays to Scotland and Ireland...Dr Hutton finds new angles, neglected pieces of evidence...It is nice to think that so enjoyable a book will become the standard authority on its subject.' Christopher Hill, Guardian"

"'This is a book packed with information and insight, biography of high order because grounded in the most thorough-going and wide-ranging analysis of the reign ... it is merriment, vitality and superb historical writing, which inform the whole of Dr Hutton's book.' Jenny Wormald, Glasgow Herald"

"'a judicious, deeply researched book, to the balance of which his sub-title is an important clue' Antonia Fraser, Sunday Times"

"'Dr Hutton's scholarship is of the highest order ... Dr Hutton is to be congratulated on producing a book of lasting interest and importance.' R. C. Latham, The Tablet"

"'This is a book of outstanding quality ... both scholarly and readable' Christian Hesketh, Scotsman"

"'Hutton has produced a carefully balanced and detailed examination of Charles II and his reign. It is a major addition to our understanding of the monarch and his turbulent times.' Jeffrey L. Schweer, S. F. Chronicle"

"'a thorough, scholarly, composite portrait' L. Elisabeth Beattie, The New York Times Book Review"

"'Charles Stuart's life makes for fascinating reading, and Hutton does the story to a luminescent turn.' Brad Hooper, Booklist"

"'well-written study of an important and fascinating figure' Library Journal"

"'the first scholarly biography of Charles II ... Any college or public library will want to buy this well-written study of an important and fascinating figure.' Library Journal"

"'Hutton has produced an erudite and extensively researched book that covers not just the king's reign but also his boyhood and experiences in exile. He shows great sensitivity to the sources ... There is much of value to be gleaned from this book.' Tim Harris, Brown University, Journal of Modern History, Volume 64, Number 4, December 1992"