The King Over the Water: A Complete History of the Jacobites

Description

Spanning more than a century and involving almost every European country at one time or another (as well as America), the Jacobite cause is one of the epic stories of history. They may have failed in their aim to restore the house of Stuart to the British throne, but in that failure the Jacobites changed the course of history. Intrigue, espionage, corruption and betrayal, as well as constancy to the cause in the face of terrible risks are all ingredients of this extraordinary tale. Few novels can boast such a colourful cast of characters - from the brilliant, mercurial Viscount Bolingbroke and the stiff, impossible Lord George Murray to the the half-mad Charles XII of Sweden and the suave and wily Cardinal Alberoni, not to mention one of the most well-known historical figures of all time - Bonnie Prince Charlie. Desmond Seward brings them all to life in this vivid, sweeping narrative, full of insight, anecdote and analysis.

Desmond Seward was educated at Ampleforth and St Catharine's College, Cambridge. One of the most highly regarded popular historians of his generation, he was the author of numerous books, ranging from studies of medieval kings to biographies of Napoleon and Hitler, to a history of the Jacobite era. His books The Hundred Years' War and The Wars of the Roses are regarded as standard works on their subjects. He died in April 2022.

'Highly readable, with brilliantly rendered characters, and thrilling tales of deceit and espionage. Seward writes of the Jacobites from a sympathetic point of view. Yet he does not shy away from the fact that, the Jacobites were never seriously in with a chance of restoring their rule' -- Calum Henderson * Military History Monthly * ''Those with an interest in such matters will be delighted to read historian Desmond Seward's new book. It sets theStuarts' story in context - chronologically, constitutionally, politically, religiously and regionally' * Lancashire Post * 'Seward demonstrates that the Jacobites were a multi-faceted and multinational bunch, united by a common vision of an alternative future. Swift and cinematic, with neatly sketched character portraits' * Financial Times * 'Seward's detailed descriptions of the Princes, Princesses, Kings and Queens create a sense of theatre and allow the reader to fully immerse themselves into the dramatic events of the period ... an engaging and easy read, perfect for emerging history buffs. 4.5/5 stars.' * Scottish Field * 'An outstanding contribution to our understanding of a complex and extended passage of history. So much about the Jacobites has tended to focus on just one or two brief episodes taken from what was, in reality, a very long-running soap opera Seward's style is approachable and eminently readable, leading you through the many twists and turns. Deserves to be widely read' * Undiscovered Scotland * 'Seward offers a fresh look at the struggle to restore the Stuart monarch after the Glorious Revolution in 1688. A bracingly revisionist history' * Telegraph * 'Seward's clear-sighted examination of the Jacobite movement shows how close it came to succeeding' -- Allan Massie * Scotsman * 'Seward's best work, persuasive and consistently employing a briskness in pace, a clarity of style and a genius for capturing the character of those long dead, long-forgotten and, perhaps, never remembered ... a rollickingly, splendidly chronological history' * Herald * 'A hugely detailed and complex history, woven into an engaging and revealing guide to what deserves to be told about the Jacobites' * Edinburgh University Club of Toronto * 'Desmond Seward is a prolific author of an impressively broad range of popular histories. Since we are not overburdened by popular histories on Jacobitism, this lively book is a welcome addition' * BBC History Magazine *