The Private Life of James II

The personal side of James II and VII has long been obscured by the propagandastorm emanating from the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688, one of the great foundingmyths of modern Britain. Justine Brown unveils James the man, teasing out a freshdimension. The Private Life of James II details the romantic adventures of a trueCavalier—handsome, courageous, loyal, pleasure-seeking, lusty, determined andsoulful. The Stuart “spare” briefly experienced a golden childhood before, aged nine,he was flung headlong into the English Civil Wars of 1642-1649\. After escapingEngland in disguise, he endured the execution of his adored father, Charles I, andyears of exile on the Continent. In 1660 the Duke of York returned to his native landin triumph. He rode into the capital at the right hand of his brother, Charles II. Jamesfully embraced the role of Restoration rake, headed up the Royal Navy, fought theFire of London with gusto, and was a great patron of theatre, painting, and music. “The darling of the people” until his dramatic conversion to Roman Catholicismtransformed him into England’s scapegoat, the heir to the Crown had a turbulentroad ahead. Come to understand what truly drove James, and learn about hiscomplex relationships with his children, his two remarkable wives, Anne Hyde andMary of Modena; his many mistresses, as well as the extraordinary friends and rivalswho helped shape the fate of this consequential Stuart monarch of England,Scotland and Ireland.