What do you think?
Rate this book
James II: The Last Catholic King
The short, action-packed reign of James II (1685-88) is generally seen as one of the most catastrophic in British history. James managed, despite having access to tremendous reserves of good will and deference, to so alienate his supporters that he had to flee for his life. And yet, most of that life was spent not as king but first as heir to Charles II, as Duke of York (after whom New York is named) and then in the last part of his life as the first Jacobite 'Pretender', starting a problem that would haunt Britain's rulers for generations.
115 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2015
9 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
David Womersley
38 books3 followersDavid Womersley, Ph.D., (Trinity College, Cambridge University, 1983; B.A., Trinity, 1979), is the Thomas Warton Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford, and a professorial fellow of St Catherine's College.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 30, 2024
A useful introduction to the reign of James II. As with all books in this series this is short at just over 100 pages, including notes/sources and index.
David Womersly provides good insight, especially of the period to James acceding the throne, on the political and religious landscape and the beliefs/requirements the monarch wanted.
Whilst, readable and useful, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as others in the series, but that said it is very much of use on why and how James came to relinquish the throne to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange.
David Womersly provides good insight, especially of the period to James acceding the throne, on the political and religious landscape and the beliefs/requirements the monarch wanted.
Whilst, readable and useful, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as others in the series, but that said it is very much of use on why and how James came to relinquish the throne to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange.
February 9, 2018
A short biography, which addresses the main question of James II's short reign, "What was he thinking?!" Womersley moves away from traditional accounts of the Glorious Revolution, which focus on James II as an unusually obstinate and misguided monarch and instead examines the broader political context of his times and the variety of different ideas about monarchy in Western Europe. Still, Womersley identifies traits in James II's personality and conduct that contributed to his overthrow in 1688, noting that James "never seems to have grasped that an unswerving adherence to a plan, no matter what the circumstances, can show foolishness rather than resolution." I would have been interested to read more details about the influence of James's 2nd wife Mary of Modena (the role of his 1st wife Anne Hyde in his religious conversation is discussed in some detail) and about James' later life after the Glorious Revolution and the Battle of the Boyne.
March 19, 2023
A good primer for this tumultuous era, well written and executed.
September 4, 2015
JACO BITESIZE VOLUME- WELL EXECUTED AND STYLISHLY PRODUCED
The Penguin monarchs series is an ambitious project. Get some of the best ( and sometimes upcoming) writers (some historians, some not) and ask them to write stylish lives within a brevity that is in itself potentially self limiting. Can the writer square this circle? David Womersley is a professor of English literature but has few problems in navigating both the big picture and the micro aspects of his subject- James 11- the last catholic king. The books themselves are deliberately designed as things of beauty with pale cloth bound editions fronted by a half paper illustration. It is almost as if Penguin know that there will be completists out there who just have to have them all! They do indeed look striking and lovely and will have general appeal both as gifts and as academic primers. I suspect the best of this series will not be given the label "primer" or "introduction" if the job is done well. In the case of this volume, Womersley is both careful and assiduous in his contextual framing about versions of Whig history which is supposedly epitomised by the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He carefully unpicks the nuances of this debate and I am pleased to see in a good and informative bibliography credit given to the historian JR Jones whose seminal books on the First Whigs and the 1688 revolution look at the policies of James in their own right and on their own terms. Womersley then covers the period when James was Duke of York with interesting emphasis on the power he had in the last years of the reign of Charles 11. Finally his reign as king is covered and the unravelling of his objectives to convert the country back to catholicism and the intervention of his son-in law, William that saw an end to his rule, despite the abortive attempt to return at the Battle of the Boyne. Womersley handles this narrative with great care, dealing both with the legalities of the kings use of prerogative power and the growing opposition to his rule. So why four stars rather than five?? Well, the book is 115 pages long (including academic notes, bibliography and index) and within this framework for me this is a primer and an introduction rather than the full five star experience. For this Womersley would have had to write with more relish and with more style- the danger in these very short books is that the author just writes about the 'best' bits- Womersley is so careful in explaining the intricasies (rightly so) that he forgets to polish to include verve and perhaps enjoy himself. When one looks at the list of projected writers in this series (Thomas Penn on Edward V; Tim Blanning on George 1;Jonathan Sumption on Edward 111) the mouth waters with anticipation. If it stayed a little dry with this volume that is not to underplay its overall effect- a great, solid and stimulating introduction to that somewhat unfashionable subject, James 11- and a thing of beauty as a book as well. Still, most volumes are £10.99 each which is pricey for so few pages. The writing has to be at the top of its game on every page. So read it, enjoy and follow up and maybe then onto the next one...
The Penguin monarchs series is an ambitious project. Get some of the best ( and sometimes upcoming) writers (some historians, some not) and ask them to write stylish lives within a brevity that is in itself potentially self limiting. Can the writer square this circle? David Womersley is a professor of English literature but has few problems in navigating both the big picture and the micro aspects of his subject- James 11- the last catholic king. The books themselves are deliberately designed as things of beauty with pale cloth bound editions fronted by a half paper illustration. It is almost as if Penguin know that there will be completists out there who just have to have them all! They do indeed look striking and lovely and will have general appeal both as gifts and as academic primers. I suspect the best of this series will not be given the label "primer" or "introduction" if the job is done well. In the case of this volume, Womersley is both careful and assiduous in his contextual framing about versions of Whig history which is supposedly epitomised by the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He carefully unpicks the nuances of this debate and I am pleased to see in a good and informative bibliography credit given to the historian JR Jones whose seminal books on the First Whigs and the 1688 revolution look at the policies of James in their own right and on their own terms. Womersley then covers the period when James was Duke of York with interesting emphasis on the power he had in the last years of the reign of Charles 11. Finally his reign as king is covered and the unravelling of his objectives to convert the country back to catholicism and the intervention of his son-in law, William that saw an end to his rule, despite the abortive attempt to return at the Battle of the Boyne. Womersley handles this narrative with great care, dealing both with the legalities of the kings use of prerogative power and the growing opposition to his rule. So why four stars rather than five?? Well, the book is 115 pages long (including academic notes, bibliography and index) and within this framework for me this is a primer and an introduction rather than the full five star experience. For this Womersley would have had to write with more relish and with more style- the danger in these very short books is that the author just writes about the 'best' bits- Womersley is so careful in explaining the intricasies (rightly so) that he forgets to polish to include verve and perhaps enjoy himself. When one looks at the list of projected writers in this series (Thomas Penn on Edward V; Tim Blanning on George 1;Jonathan Sumption on Edward 111) the mouth waters with anticipation. If it stayed a little dry with this volume that is not to underplay its overall effect- a great, solid and stimulating introduction to that somewhat unfashionable subject, James 11- and a thing of beauty as a book as well. Still, most volumes are £10.99 each which is pricey for so few pages. The writing has to be at the top of its game on every page. So read it, enjoy and follow up and maybe then onto the next one...
June 9, 2017
A good overview of a monarch I knew very little about and someone who had a profound and unintentional influence on our constitution.
If you previously thought that the English Civil War was mostly a push towards democracy and a constitutional monarchy then this will dispel that myth and show that it was THIS monarch's mistakes preceeding to & whilst on the throne who actually provoked those events.
The book is written in a very engaging style and provides a good overview of this monarch's brief reign (only 3 years)
The Penguin Monarch books are generally 100 pages or less and serve as succinct guides to the British Monarchy
If you previously thought that the English Civil War was mostly a push towards democracy and a constitutional monarchy then this will dispel that myth and show that it was THIS monarch's mistakes preceeding to & whilst on the throne who actually provoked those events.
The book is written in a very engaging style and provides a good overview of this monarch's brief reign (only 3 years)
The Penguin Monarch books are generally 100 pages or less and serve as succinct guides to the British Monarchy
August 6, 2018
Strong, opinionated rundown of one of the most under-discussed periods of British history - y'know, that other time we deposed the monarch. Good way to catch up if, like me, you were a bit hazy on the whole era.
On the evidence of this entry, the Penguin Monarchs series of potted biographies are good stuff (with gorgeous covers). I'll be checking out a couple of the other lesser known kings soon.
On the evidence of this entry, the Penguin Monarchs series of potted biographies are good stuff (with gorgeous covers). I'll be checking out a couple of the other lesser known kings soon.
August 21, 2025
Informative, but an exceptionally dry read, and boring even for a lover of British history.
July 1, 2021
A quick review of the king who was dethroned by the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, which effectively concluded the Protestant Reformation for England (an oversimplification, but does the job). While his reign was short, James II was influential or an important behind the scenes player during his brother's reign (Charles II, 1660-1685), which this study brings out (actually the largest chapter focuses on that time period).
One piece of trivia from the book that I had forgotten was that New York was named for him. Before his accession, James was the Duke of York, and the British colony of New York was established in 1664.
One piece of trivia from the book that I had forgotten was that New York was named for him. Before his accession, James was the Duke of York, and the British colony of New York was established in 1664.
September 15, 2024
3.75
Sharp narrative history but it's clear that Womersley's heart is in the historiography. It's a short, neat book, split pretty much down the middle between James's long pre-king career as the Duke of York and his disastrous stint as king. The prose is clean, though the sparse punctuation and echoes of Swift and Milton don't make for the easiest reading, and there are a surprising amount of garden-path sentences. Mercifully, Womersley keeps his cast small and his narrative focused, readable, and enjoyable.
Not a particularly deep analysis of the period's history, this book is more engaging on the level of a psychological study, and sits, I think, pretty firmly among the "re-analyses" of James's reign. Womersley essentially makes his case through his frequent and judiciously-chosen quotes from (James's) contemporaries and other historians; when he himself sallies forth to analyze, it usually came off in a strange way forced or artificial (at least to me). The book is best when talking about the reception and historiography of James's reign. It's obvious Womersley is an expert on the subject, and finds it fascinating: the book opens with a chapter on "Whig history" and closes with a bibliographical essay, and these are the two best-written parts of the book.
I bought it for a buck and read it on buses and brutally cracked the spine and gave it away right after finishing it. Closer to 4* than 3* because of Womersley's passion; I just wish it translated into a deeper analysis.
Sharp narrative history but it's clear that Womersley's heart is in the historiography. It's a short, neat book, split pretty much down the middle between James's long pre-king career as the Duke of York and his disastrous stint as king. The prose is clean, though the sparse punctuation and echoes of Swift and Milton don't make for the easiest reading, and there are a surprising amount of garden-path sentences. Mercifully, Womersley keeps his cast small and his narrative focused, readable, and enjoyable.
Not a particularly deep analysis of the period's history, this book is more engaging on the level of a psychological study, and sits, I think, pretty firmly among the "re-analyses" of James's reign. Womersley essentially makes his case through his frequent and judiciously-chosen quotes from (James's) contemporaries and other historians; when he himself sallies forth to analyze, it usually came off in a strange way forced or artificial (at least to me). The book is best when talking about the reception and historiography of James's reign. It's obvious Womersley is an expert on the subject, and finds it fascinating: the book opens with a chapter on "Whig history" and closes with a bibliographical essay, and these are the two best-written parts of the book.
I bought it for a buck and read it on buses and brutally cracked the spine and gave it away right after finishing it. Closer to 4* than 3* because of Womersley's passion; I just wish it translated into a deeper analysis.
January 5, 2021
Great short history
I really enjoyed this. The author is very good at identifying, summarising, explaining key points in the familiar narrative. I also learned things that was not included in longer books.
I really enjoyed this. The author is very good at identifying, summarising, explaining key points in the familiar narrative. I also learned things that was not included in longer books.
November 21, 2018
Brief and informative...could have explored his relationships with his children.
January 10, 2023
A brief overview of James II’s catastrophic reign.
Read
January 31, 2024Was obviously lured in by the cover
September 22, 2024
Good little overview of the short and not-very-sweet reign of James II.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews